Mr. CEO Sassy Bride

“What’s really going on, Lani? You’ve got a job but I can see that you’re not happy since the day you got the job,”expressed Ethan, gratefully accepting the cup of water from his sister’s outstretched hand.

Evidently filled with sorrow, Lani attempted to conceal it by averting her gaze to the ground. However, Ethan observed the glistening of tears about to overflow.

Taking a deep, uneven breath, Leilani slowly squatted in front of Ethan, locking eyes with the concerned amber orbs of her brother.

Today marks the third day since she sealed the contract of marriage with the unknown, cold CEO and despite not receiving any communication or acknowledgement from him yet – not that she desired any. She couldn’t shake off the apprehension of leaving her brother behind for a prolonged three-month duration.

“I’m at a loss, Ethan, or rather, worried,” Leilani disclosed as Ethan adjusted himself in his wheelchair, his attention fully focused on his sister.

“You can confide in me about anything, Lani. You are my sister and I, your brother – we have no one else but each other. Please, tell me, why are you feeling distressed, sis?” he reassured, holding onto her hand as she lowered her head.

“I am troubled by the job, Ethan,” she raised her head again, her voice trembling slightly. It appeared she was holding back her tears. “The boss’s schedule will be extremely demanding for the next three months, Ethan, and I am required to be by his side at all times.”

‘Another lie, Lani,’ a small voice whispered in her ear, causing her to bite down on her lower lip.

Ethan’s anxious expression shifted into a pout. “Now I understand why you’ve been looking so down, Lani. You’re afraid I’ll be left on my own, but it’s okay, sis. I’ll move in with Hannah if she’s okay with it.”

The unexpected words from Ethan left Leilani in disbelief. “Are you truly okay with staying with Hannah?”

“Of course, Lani. Hannah is a good girl, and besides, you’re not just working for yourself but for me too. So why wouldn’t I be okay?” Ethan replied with conviction.

Leilani’s throat tightened, and she couldn’t find the words to respond as she stared at Ethan. Is he really fifteen years old?

“I just hope you’ll make time to see me sometimes,” Ethan said sadly, looking down at their intertwined hands. “I can’t bear being apart from you for a whole month, Lani.”

“And I can’t go a week without you either, Ethan,” Leilani managed to say, fighting back tears.

Ethan beamed at her affectionately. “Everything will be okay soon, Lani. I believe it.”

Leilani nodded emphatically. “I believe it too, baby.”

Suddenly, a loud, cheerful tune blared through the room, and Ethan’s face lit up.

“My favorite anime is on, Lani. I’ll talk to you later,” he exclaimed.

Leilani smiled and stood up, watching Ethan’s full attention shift to the TV.

“Lani loves Ethan,” she called out, placing a gentle kiss on his head.

“Ethan loves Lani more,” Ethan replied absentmindedly, grinning at the TV.

Then Leilani made her way to her room, closing the door softly and leaning against it. She closed her eyes as Hannah’s advice from three nights ago resurfaced in her mind.

*Make him fall in love with you, Lani. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and weak around him, evoking his pity and sympathy towards you*

Her eyes snapped open, a gasp escaping her lips as her mind raced. “That foolish girl,” she scolded herself. “She dragged me into this ridiculous situation and had the audacity to give me terrible advice.”

She ground her teeth as her thoughts consumed her, until a sudden buzz pulled her out of her reverie. Her body tensed, flinching at the unexpected noise, before realizing it was just her cellphone.

“Damn it,” she muttered, making her way to her bed to retrieve her phone. As she unlocked the screen, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Skepticism filled her gaze as she read the short text message again and again.

“Put on your best dress. I’ll be in your neighborhood at 7,” the message read.

She didn’t need anyone to tell her who the sender was. “Ugh,” she groaned, bitterness and anguish overtaking her as she ran a hand through her hair and collapsed onto the bed.

Now he could just text her as he pleased, ordering her around. “Ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.

But then, she couldn’t even blame him, could she? No, she couldn’t. It was all her friend’s fault for giving out her personal information without her knowledge.

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“Here we are, Mr. Carter,” Herbert announced as he brought the car to a stop in front of a tiny cottage.

He glanced at the GPS map on his tablet and then surveyed the cottage once more. With a sense of assurance, he nodded to himself.

“We’ve arrived at the correct address, sir,” he affirmed, catching a glimpse of his boss through the rearview mirror.

Meanwhile, Nelson was intently typing away on his phone, his demeanor as frigid as ever. It was impossible to decipher his thoughts; he was simply accustomed to maintaining a calm and indifferent facade.

Inside the cozy cottage, Leilani gazed at her reflection in the mirror, a look of contentment on her face. After blowing a kiss to herself, she confidently strolled out of her room.

In the living room, Ethan was engrossed in the TV until he noticed his sister’s approach. His attention shifted to Leilani, and he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

“Lani, didn’t you mention that your new boss was planning to introduce you to some of the board of directors?” he asked with hesitation.

Leilani pursed her lips and nodded. That was what she told Ethan after she got the message from Nelson at noon.

“Then why are you wearing Mom’s dress? You look like a relic in that, sis,” Ethan couldn’t hide his disappointment.

He couldn’t grasp why Leilani had chosen that particular dress when there were plenty of other more flattering options in her wardrobe.

Shouldn’t she strive to make a favorable impression on her new employer?

“He instructed me to don my best gown, Ethan,”

“And this is your finest gown?” Ethan interjected, his eyes widening in disbelief, “Lani, you haven’t worn that dress since our mother’s passing. Why would you choose to wear it on such a momentous occasion? And why are you not wearing any makeup?”

Leilani opened her mouth to respond to one of her brother’s inquiries when her phone suddenly vibrated in her hand.

Glancing at the phone, she read the text…

“It’s 7 o’clock. Do you want me to come and drag you out of that house?”

Her face scrunched up into a scowl, but she quickly plastered on a smile and assured Ethan that she wouldn’t be late and needed to leave now.

“What is the name of your new boss, Lani?”

Ethan watched his sister make her way to the door before stopping her with his question.

Taken aback, Leilani turned to look at Ethan’s face as he sat in his wheelchair, noting the genuine curiosity etched on his features.

Oh my goodness! She didn’t know his name and although she was supposed to have noted it down when finalizing the deal, she was too elated to catch a glimpse of it in the document.

“I would like to conduct some research on him,” Ethan continued.

Leilani opened her mouth, then closed it, opened it again, and closed it once more, unsure of how to respond.

“Lani…”

“I’ll tell you when I return, Ethan. Love you,” Leilani hastily said, making her way out of the house.

As she reached out, a sigh escaped Leilani’s lips upon spotting a white Mercedes Benz parked outside her house. Even though the windows were tinted, she was certain that whoever was inside could see her and was likely observing her every move.

Confirming her suspicion, Nelson and Herbert exchanged a brief glance before fixing their gaze on Leilani again, who was now making her way towards the car.

“What is she wearing?” Herbert muttered to himself, still peering at Leilani through the opaque glass.

She was adorned in a floral, empire waist-maxi dress that elegantly trailed behind her as she walked. The gown had short sleeves and Leilani had paired it with a set of delicate gloves.

Nelson could feel a headache coming on as he rubbed his forehead in frustration.

Furrowing his brow, he turned to the woman dressed like a character from Bridgerton, who was now standing by the car with the door open.

His eyes were as dark as an endless ocean, turbulent with emotion as he questioned, “What is the meaning of this? We are in San Francisco, not England. Why are you dressed like a historical lady?”

Leilani suppressed a smile and gazed down at her outfit innocently. “You told me to wear my best dress, sir.”

The corners of Nelson’s eyes crinkled as he narrowed his gaze at her. “This is your best dress?”

Observing her bite her bottom lip and struggle to contain a smile, Nelson realized that Leilani had purposely chosen an excessively long dress to make herself appear unkempt and unprofessional.