College Crush Became My Boss

I hid in the restroom, and at this moment, he was waiting for me outside.

If it was three years ago, I wouldn't have dared to even imagine this scenario.

Listening to the conversation between a man and a woman at the door, I recalled the utterly humiliating scene from earlier, feeling utterly helpless.

Today was my first day at the company.

From the moment I discovered that my boss was the handsome boy from my college that I once had a crush on, I felt a mixture of emotions.

This was destined to be the unluckiest day of my life.

Sure enough, as I stood in the conference room sharing my overseas experiences, a figure swiftly approached me from behind.

I turned around-it was Derek Reid! What was he up to?

He suddenly wrapped his arm around me, tying his suit jacket around my waist.

I struggled, feeling a bit uncomfortable, but he looked up and said, "Don't move."

I really didn't dare to move after that.

He led me out of the conference room, leaving behind a crowd with astonished faces.

When we reached the restroom door, I stopped, feeling uneasy.

He noticed my wariness and leaned down, looking at me gently.

"Wait here for me. I'll go borrow a sanitary pad for you."

I was thrown into chaos once again.

Seriously, how was a guy like you going to borrow one?

Soon, he returned with a black plastic bag, handing it to me with reddened ears.

After thanking him, I quickly retreated into the restroom.

Looking at the stain on my pants, I awkwardly tied the jacket back around my waist.

The conversation outside ended, and someone gently knocked on the door.

"Lynn Thomson, are you okay?"

I patted my already flushed cheeks, splashed some cold water on my face, and opened the door with a sense of grim determination.

In the distance, a woman's graceful figure disappeared around the corner.

He was leaning against the wall, lost in thought. Hearing the door open, he looked up at me.

He always kept the familiar expression, eyes always smiling gently at you, giving endless hope, only to eventually crush it.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." I said stiffly.

"It's fine. Are you alright?"

He pursed his lips, murmuring my name, "Lynn."

He was so different from how he was in school, yet he still had to maintain his boss image, showing concern for me, the new employee.

Back then, his amusement seemed to come from humiliating me...

2

Derek was my unattainable crush at college before I went abroad, the typical handsome guy with an air of reserved charm, and gentle, soulful eyes.

He was quite tall with long legs and abs, and he was naturally popular.

The stories between us began with a chance encounter, just like in a romantic movie.

I was peacefully enjoying the quiet under an osmanthus tree when Derek emerged from the maple trees nearby, his voice laced with a smile.

"It just rained. If you stay like that, you'll end up with mud all over your face and body."

Startled, I looked at him, and with just one glance, I fell for him.

I never dared to hope that my infatuation at first sight would be reciprocated, nor did I realize that every gift from fate came with hidden costs.

By fate, the boy who captured my heart became my classmate.

Perhaps due to that chance meeting, Derek and I grew closer, attending classes, dining, studying together, even going out for movies and concerts, remembering each other's preferences.

He was unusually kind to me, offering special care.

I thought we would naturally become a couple, if not for what happened...

Our closeness soon drew the attention of other girls, who began spreading rumors about me, escalating to bullying... and Derek suddenly started distancing himself from me.

One time, a group of girls stripped me and poured cold water over me. As I emerged from the restroom, I saw Derek standing not far away. He met my gaze, turned away in panic, and showed no concern from the beginning to the end.

It was my childhood friend Alfred Sanderson who rushed over, wrapping me in clothes and holding me tightly, angrily scolding the girls. I watched helplessly as the lead girl ran to Derek, clinging to his arm coquettishly.

I couldn't hold back any longer and cried in Alfred's embrace.

Later, I learned that the girl was Marissa Barrett, Derek's childhood sweetheart, and their families were considering an engagement.

I retreated, and they suddenly stopped tormenting me.

The six months I spent with Derek were like nothing more than a dream.

I secretly applied to an overseas university, not even telling Alfred. The day before I left, I heard Alfred had beaten Derek badly. Marissa threatened to have Alfred expelled out of the college or she would find a way to send him to the prison.

That night, I found Derek, begging him to let Alfred go.

"You think I'm forcing Alfred?" He asked with a wicked smile, blood seeping from the scab on his lip.

"Lynn, is that how worthless I am to you? Fine, kiss me, and I'll let Alfred go."

I stared at him in shock. "What?"

Derek leaned in, his eyes filled with an unreadable madness and restraint. He slowly tapped his lips with his finger.

"Kiss here."

That night, with a kiss tainted by tears and blood, I secured Alfred's safety, thinking it would be parting ways with no hard feelings between Derek and me.

3

I thought Derek would fire me, but nothing happened.

He seemed busy, rarely at the company, always out on business, accompanied by that beautiful woman.

It turned out Derek didn't end up with his childhood sweetheart but chose someone else.

Even though I had someone I liked, seeing them so close still hurt a bit.

Perhaps they reminded me too much of someone else...

But none of that mattered! The priority was to figured out the adorable person who delivered breakfast to me every day.

I got up early and hid in the office corner, lying in wait, and a furtive figure entered my view, looking around before placing a breakfast bag on my desk like a thief.

The moment I recognized the face, I stood up in surprise.

It was Martin Jackson, Derek's secretary!

Thud! A vase beside me toppled over.

Our eyes met.

"Uh... hi?" I awkwardly waved.

At that moment, I was standing at the CEO's office door, waiting.

Under my pressure, Martin confessed that Derek was the one leaving breakfast on my desk every day. Because of an urgent meeting that morning, he had Martin deliver it instead. He even privately told my supervisor not to have me run errands, as he had important tasks for me.

I should have realized it sooner.

The breakfast perfectly suited to my taste, the colleagues' unusual kindness, which could only be under the directions of Derek.

Overwhelmed with emotions, I lost my ability to think. Upon learning Derek would be at the company that morning, I grabbed the washed suit jacket and breakfast, heading straight for the CEO's office.

From downstairs, I heard Derek's voice. Looking out the window, I saw him leaning tenderly against a car door, flirting with the beautiful woman, who playfully pinched his arm.

Watching their affectionate interaction, I found Derek's figure eerily overlapped with someone far away in the foreign country.

My eyes inexplicably welled up, and in a daze, I met a pair of dark, unreadable eyes.

Panicking, I pressed the elevator button, trying to escape.

[Ding-] Two elevators arrived simultaneously.

I rushed into the nearest one, frantically pressing buttons as the shadow on the floor approached.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, I let out a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a pair of hands reached in, prying the doors open.

"Why are you running?"