Bound to the Ruthless CEO

I watched the numbers change inside the elevator. I swallowed and realized that I was still hungry. How will I eat if I start now? Maybe I'll go out for a while and buy something to eat. I thought about the fried chicken at the restaurant earlier. Is it a good decision to spend almost a quarter of my money on that?

"When is the payday?" I asked Mrs. Lee.

"Employees here get paid on the 15th and 30th. Oh!" She said, and her face brightened. "You'll be on the 40th floor. Since you'll be sleeping here, and Mr. Van der Bilt is usually the last one to leave, aside from the Financial Department, I'll assign you there," Mrs. Lee said.

I nodded. "What time does Mr. Van der Bilt usually leave?"

"By ten o'clock at the latest. So, it means, at 10:30, you'll go up and start cleaning on the 40th floor."

"Is it possible to go up at 10:10?" Mrs. Lee looked at me.

I grinned and made a peace sign. "Just kidding. Alright then, 10:30," I said, while my eyes wandered to the elevator numbers.

Mrs. Lee showed me Mr. Van der Bilt's office. She didn't tell me that the entire 40th floor was Mr. Van der Bilt's office! It's spacious, and the walls are all glass! I can see the sunset from here.

"Usually, the maintenance crew leaves when there's no one else on their floor. Since you won't be leaving, it should be fine. Sophie, the one assigned to Finance, is usually the last one to leave here," Mrs. Lee explained.

I just nodded, looking at a plant below a huge abstract painting of a plant. How much are these furnishings? Maybe they can feed me for two months?

"Did you go to college, dear?" Mrs. Lee asked.

"No, ma'am. I almost didn't graduate from high school. But I wanted to go to college, but I didn't have the money," I answered. Mrs. Lee scrutinized me, looking me up and down. 

"You don't seem like it. You have wealthy skin, and you're beautiful," she said, shaking her head. "I heard what happened between you and Mike earlier. Sorry about that. Many have complained about him, even employees. Let's hope Mr. Van der Bilt fired him. But you are truly beautiful, and it's strange that you don't have a place to stay. Where are your parents?"

I smiled. "Thank you. My mom was beautiful. She passed away recently. My dad has been dead for a long time."

"Sorry to hear that."

I roamed around the office. I didn't want to talk about my family. I want to stay strong for now. Remembering my mom and her death is not appropriate. It will just make me sad.

Luckily, Mrs. Lee stopped asking me questions. She escorted me to the 15th floor, and she was right. Almost all the maintenance crew had already left. The only one left there was a woman a bit older than me. Her eyes widened as she fixed her hair. She might be Sophie.

"New here?" she asked while applying lipstick.

I nodded and looked at the lounge. There's a sofa there, and I thought I could probably sleep there.

"On which floor?" she asked.

I watched how she combed her hair. She's beautiful. She's slightly fair, and her hair is long. Not as long as mine, but it's shinier and straighter.

"40th," I said.

Her eyes widened. "40th? Seriously? That's Mr. Van der Bilt's office!"

I nodded, surprised by her reaction.

"Oh my God! He's so handsome and so hot! Have you seen him?" she asked.

I nodded again and took a royal blue uniform that seems to be my new uniform.

"What's next? He's so handsome, right? Oh my God!" She approached me. "I've always dreamed of being assigned to the 40th floor! So, what happened when you saw him?"

I winced. I understand that Mr. Van der Bilt is handsome. I remember the shape of his face because of his jaw and his eyebrows. His nose is prominent, and his lips are thin. Typical of a wealthy and successful person. But what good is a handsome man if his character is worse than ugly? That's what I can't understand about people.

Sophie frowned when I said I didn't like Mr. Van der Bilt's attitude, and it seems he doesn't like me either. He sent me away when we first met and threw my resume in the trash. 

"I'll go ahead. Mrs. Lee has left, and Finance is okay now. Thank goodness, I can finally go home!" Sophie said, then left.

Right after Sophie went out of the maintenance room, I decided to leave the building. I was already in uniform and thought of buying canned goods instead of eating at a restaurant. One can a day. Maybe I can survive on that? It's a good thing I have free accommodation here. Will it last, or will they think I'm a burden because I sleep here? I hope not.

I bought eight cans and thought that maybe I'll eat at a small eatery or fast food occasionally to avoid getting tired of canned goods. The 15th floor is still quite far, so I need to save money for now. Once I've saved enough, maybe I can rent a space with my own bed, bathroom, and storage for my things. In the building, the bathroom is shared.

Upon returning from the grocery, I noticed that Sophie's bag was no longer there. I realized she must have left. I ate and slept. Every time I fell into a deep sleep, I woke myself up because I was afraid, I wouldn't wake up by 10:30. I don't have a cellphone, so I don't have an alarm.

I fell asleep five times and woke up until it was already 10:15. I washed up and fixed myself. I arranged my clothes and went up to start cleaning on the 40th floor.

I tied my long hair and pressed 40 in the elevator. I waited for a few moments before reaching the floor. The elevator opened, and the slightly dark office lay before me. There were double doors before I could enter.

I picked up the mop before entering and started picking up trash. I saw various torn papers there. Maybe Mr. Van der Bilt tore them earlier out of extreme anger? I smiled, thinking how furious Mr. Van der Bilt must have been. Why would people get angry if they're already so wealthy? If I had money, I'd be smiling every day. No matter what misfortune falls upon me, my smile wouldn't fade because I wouldn't have money problems.

I stopped when I picked up something unusual. I propped the mop on the floor as I lifted myself, looking at the red strings I picked up. A few moments later, I realized what it was.

"Panties?" I whispered to myself.

I looked around until I gradually heard a faint moan coming from Mr. Van der Bilt's desk.

What's happening?

My eyes widened as I held onto the mop. I could clearly see Mr. Van der Bilt's bare back as he repeatedly pushed himself against a woman leaning on his desk.

I glanced at his bare back. The muscles of his back moved in rhythm with his thrusts. He stood, holding the woman's waist while doing it.

I covered my mouth with my hand. The woman moaned even more as she wrapped her legs around Mr. Van der Bilt's back. I looked up at Mr. Van der Bilt and saw his jaw tighten as the woman screamed. My hair stood on end at the woman's scream.

"Logan! Oooohhh!!"

I took a deep breath and slowly left. Wrong time.