Love Or Lie

CHAPTER 1

ARCHER

I’ve always expected a woman’s bag to be filled with nothing but things like: lip gloss, lip stick, powder and so on.

I wasn’t a novice on knowing why ladies frequented excusing themselves to the restroom or the powder room as they call it. I should know when I have been on dozens of blind dates, parties, balls, and galas. And none of my dates never fail to visit the restroom only to be back with their already perfect makeup looking brighter—in a bad way.

It was an inevitable cause as one of the top most eligible bachelors—stated by Forbes—of the Arkane group.

Below me, I stood shocked as the taser, a pair of iron knuckles, a gun labeled ‘pepper spray’ on the body and an extendable baton spill out of my PEA’s purse when we bumped into each other on my way to my office.

Eunoia Hayes, my personal executive assistant and the reason for my recent sleepless nights.

I, Archer Arkane, the youngest vice-president of the Arkane group, ranking among the top ten in the top list of the most handsome and successful CEOs in the country. When I wasn’t in the office working, I spent my time in sweet paradise with one or two or more girls wrapped in my arms, ending the night in a big bang. I had my good and bad reputations but I didn’t care one bit as long as I had fun and it didn’t affect my work.

Yet I was having sleepless nights, having lustful thoughts of the woman before me invading my space. A sudden flash of hot red, heated bodies and red lips sear through me. An uncontrolled groan slip out of my mouth.

Eunoia’s face snapped up to me at the sound.

“Oh, I'm so sorry.” Eunoia lowered down to one knee and hurriedly picked up the weapons, placing each back into her purse.

I motioned to bend and help but she was done picking them before I could act on it.

Placing them carefully and zipping her purse shut, Eunoia rose to her feet as fast as she bent but the action backfired as she misses her footing on the two inch heels she wore everyday, falling back butt flat to the floor.

Luckily her items stayed in the purse and not back on the floor.

Clumsy. Cute.

I stretch my right hand forward to her. She looked like she was pondering whether to take my hand or not.

Eunoia stretched her hand to take mine but as soon as we came in contact, she retracted her hand as if my touch burned her, meanwhile it was the opposite for me. That brief contact had shivers licking my skin.

What is it about this woman that makes my body react like this? Like I am still in my puberty stage.

I stare at my rejected hand, pressing my lips, I glance back to Eunoia, who is already picking herself up without my help, and pull back my hand, placing it back in the pockets of my pants. I scan the arena with the corner of my eyes, thankfully we were alone.

What I get for being a gentleman. Not that I wasn’t.

Eunoia already stood straight like a robot waiting for its next command. Her cheeks, a tint of pink while her eyes avert my gaze. I almost chuckle at the gesture.

I open my mouth to talk but she beat me to it. “I'm sorry you had to see...that.”

I raise a brow at what she is saying until it hits me. The weapons. I was going to ask if she was okay. “Oh about that—”

“I’m sorry but you have a meeting with Mr. Karl of K&X and he has been waiting at your office. He arrived three minutes early.” She is back in her work—robot—mode.

Karl Bane, a man known for his over punctuality, started his company with his twin brother, Xander Bane, another punctuality keeper.

I snap my wrist up, my eyes reflexively shifting to the face of my Rolex watch, before dropping it down to bury it back into my pockets.

Fuck. I am late.

I give her a short glance, sigh in defeat and strut passed her stoic posture. Her rose-cinnamon scent swiftly brush through my nose and I almost reclined to take in more of that smell.

I halt in front of the modern sliding door, my heart pounding for no reason.

Why does she have this much effect on me? I sneak a quick glance over my shoulders to catch her organizing the piles of files on her.

I fight the urge to turn back and let the words and questions at the tip of my tongue come out and demand answers. Is she a witch? What kind of spell had she cast on me? It’s all because of that darn night. The night I saw that the stuck-up PEA I thought I knew to be boring and stale was actually a wild card.

I wave the incoming dirty thoughts away and proceed inside to meet Karl and let work drain me of my thoughts of a certain brunette.

EUNOIA

You would think working with an outgoing boss was the best thing ever. Ha.

Two years ago, I was employed by the company of my dreams, Arkane Group. I started as an intern at the HR department during my finals in university and was lucky enough to secure a permanent employee contract. Goal driven, I worked harder than a dog looking for bone, which bore fruits and got me promoted to the exclusive assistant department.

I thought the promotion was a blessing. Why not? I get to work with the man of my dreams but it was short-lived.

I got selected as the personal executive assistant of the one and only Archer Arkane, the vice-president of Arkane group.

Among the many heirs—sons of Noah Arkane, the president of Arkane Group, Archer stood out.

Noah Arkane, the only child of Silas Arkane(chairman of Arkane group) had eight sons, each born from his different mistresses, Archer’s mother being one of them.

Despite the cutthroat competition between father and sons on who was taking over the company once the chairman stepped down, Archer made a name for himself.

Graduated MIT at the young age of eighteen and secured an MBA two years later. Articles raved about him, marveled at the young genius and what he would turn out to be. At twenty-three, he restored a falling subsidiary company to be the one of the highest source of income to the group earning him a triple shot promotion to executive managing director.

More feats were achieved and in the span of five years, he was promoted to vice-president of Arkane group and CEO to four subsidiary companies, surpassing his other five brothers and ranking higher. Meanwhile, two opted out of the competition. Good for them.

Rumors went on that with his achievements, he deserved the seat of the president more than his father but he was being respectful to his father. That might be somewhat true to someone who didn’t know Archer.

He had won the hearts of many and also broken the hearts of many. On the exterior, He wasn’t just brain and wits, he had empathy and worked well in any given environment, hIS employees loved him; however, having served him for two years, I knew what he was on the inside, away from the biased eyes of his fans. He was an A grade player and jerk who broke hearts as much as he earned them.

I would tell because I was the bearer of the consequences while the culprit ran free.

Before joining the company, I’d always admired and respected the Arkane group. They had a good reputation, paid a handsome salary with generous incentives, and everyone wanted to join them. I mean one of the company’s motto was people and trust.

However, getting employed at Arkane group was equivalent to trying to pull heavens down to earth. Impossible.

My heart still races at the thought of how I got into where I was.

The young illegitimate son of the Arkane group was the admiration of all who came across him and I wasn’t left out. I was captivated by his determination to break all obstacles, withstanding the words of mouths, to getting through and proved them wrong.

My admiration turned to a crush. It was inevitable. I’d buy every magazine I came across that had Archer Arkane in it. He was dangerously handsome, strong sharp jaws, piercing silver eyes, crisp lines, broad shoulders that one could cling on and a nice six-five height as a cherry on top.

I bounced up and down my bed when I was appointed to be his personal executive assistant . The thought of working close to him sent every nerve in my body sparking with want. It felt like one of those forbidden office romances I read. At least to me. And I was fine with that.

However, I soon got to know the real Archer Arkane and he was a devil in disguise. I turned from a personal executive assistant to his personal maid, cleaning up his messes. He flirted with anything that wore a skirt, but the ladies didn’t mind. It was Archer of course, a girl would have to be crazy to say no to Archer.

Thankfully, he kept it professional at work. He's seen as the nice boss on the outside but turns completely opposite when he’s with me. Such an insufferable jerk.

One time at midnight, my familiar ‘I want to kill my boss’ ringtone blasted through my room interrupting my slumber. Every part of my body ached from my evil boss ordering and dragging me around. I groaned as I patted my bed frantically searching for the source of my frustration. I grabbed hold of my phone when I felt it and flick the screen of the annoying thin box. Its brightness burned my eyes. I rubbed my eyes in attempt to rub the sleep off. I didn’t bother to read the caller ID, the ringtone said enough. I swiped my thumb through the screen and directed the phone to my left ear. “Yes sir.” I answered groggily.

“Are you asleep?” I could hear the loud pop music blasting in the background. He was at a party.

Of course. I rolled my eyes.

I pinched my nose before answering. “Sir,” I take a deep breath. “I don’t know what the time says in your world but normal people like me sleep this deep in the night and not party like the end of the world was near—no even if the end of the world was near I don’t think partying like animals should be an option, should it? No, it shouldn’t.” I clamp my hand to my mouth to stop myself from saying another word I'd probably regret by morning.

I heard him chuckle at the end of the line that slowly burst into a full deep laughter. The sound of his laughter ignited the butterflies in my tummy to flap furiously. Why was I so aware of this man that even his mere laugh could awaken the things I was trying so hard to smash without even trying? Warmth spread through my body. I was thankful that we were on a phone call, he didn’t need to see this side of me.

“Sparkle.” The nickname I disliked as much as I liked it. Unlike normal bosses, Archer prefers to taunt me with nicknames. Some good, some annoying. However, sparkle stuck more than other names he liked to tease me with. I pressed my lips in a non-existent anger as more warmth radiated through my body though I didn’t answer.

I heard a grunt. Tingle. A crash then a short silence. My heart leaped at the sound. What’s going on?

“Ms. Hayes.” His voice suddenly turned serious, “Come over right now!” the line cuts.

Come not get. Something was definitely wrong.

I sprang to my feet and rushed to my closet. The previous butterflies tampered down, replaced with a mix of rage with a little worry. I snatched whatever I could and wore over my nighties.

The closer I got to him, worry drowned rage. And when I got there, I was beyond shocked to see the very source of my panting like a dog and heart beating out my chest, locking lips with a bimbo and another brunette bimbo tracing her fingers in circles against his barely covered chest. The drowned rage resurfaced back.

My heart squeezed tightly at the sight. All of a sudden, I lost the ability to breathe...

After that day, I swore to never show him any emotion whatsoever and get rid of any feelings I had for him. I lived like a dog on a leash during work hours and sought comfort in my bed. Comfort including a jar of nutella, a cheesy rom-com, a jar of gummy bears and my roommate, Sabrina. Who also was my unpaid, unofficial therapist.

I shake my head in an attempt to wipe away that memory and that was not even the last of it.

I bury my face in my palms.

He saw it. That look. What was that look? I can’t seem to forget the look on his face when I rejected his hand.

I couldn’t help it. I haven't had the chance to touch…the boss since my oath. More like I avoided touching him. In fact I have been trying my best not to come in any form of physical contact with Archer. Not even when I had to pick him up from his late night escapades or handing him schedules and work plans. Even dinner parties when I attended as his plus one when he didn’t have a bimbo or a sophisticated rich daddy’s girl around him.

We barely touched yet the heat of his hand seared through me. I find it unprofessional of me to be in a one-sided love with my boss. Plus, knowing his history with women. I'd never be his.

I wasn’t the type of woman he went for.

I need to get over it. I shake off the brewing tingles licking at my skin and fixed my gaze to the home screen of the desktop in front of me and went to work.