Chapter 1 The New Collaborator

• Two minutes.
• That was the exact amount of time it took for my downfall.
• I am the great CEO of the largest publishing company for articles and books in the country, an absolute success story. I grew this business from scratch, raised by my grandparents in very humble circumstances.
• They couldn’t afford to give me expensive things or a proper education, but they did their best to ensure I could become exactly who I am and reach where I am today.
• After the accidental death of my parents, my maternal grandparents took me in. There were no other relatives or options—it was either this or adoption, and they would never let their only granddaughter end up in an orphanage with strangers who might mistreat her.
• Those two are the main reason I built such a successful business.
• I started as a simple writer, all my stories amateurish at the time. My first e-book to gain success was a teenage romance with some inappropriate scenes. Girls loved reading that kind of content, which intrigued me.
• Because of this discovery, I began writing more and more of these romances. Until one day, an ad for one of these books caught my attention.
• The girl truly had talent for writing, but it seemed like no one cared. Her audience was tiny, to the point where she even paid to reach more readers.
• I had a small idea and found her contact so we could talk. With my help, we published that story, which quickly became an international bestseller. We were ecstatic.
• From then on, we started working together. We opened a small office in the city center, and as we grew, more collaborators became interested in working with us. Writers of all genres approached us to publish their stories.
• It didn’t seem like luck at all—it felt like destiny.
• When Calleman Corporation reached the level it’s at now, Anabella decided to take a different path. She is one of our main writers and shareholders, but she decided to sell her shares to pursue her other dream of becoming a renowned fashion designer.
• I am absolutely certain she will succeed. Her charisma is evident, her beauty radiant, and her talent overwhelming. I am so proud to have a friend like her by my side after a life of so many struggles.
• "Are you sure this is what you want, Ana? I’ll support you without hesitation, no matter what you decide," I said, holding her hands as we talked in the office—once so small, now a company with numerous rooms and vast spaces.
• "I’m sure, Elys. You’ll be even prouder of me, I promise," she said, and I could see the sparkle in her eyes, that adrenaline of following her purpose, of knowing she was heading in the right direction.
• "Let’s just make sure we sell this to the right person. I’ll have to deal with them, after all. I want a good business partner," I added with a sweet smile.
• "Or partner..." A mischievous grin formed on her lips. "Who knows, maybe you two could be friends with benefits. It would be the ultimate thrill to see a man tame the great CEO Elys Calleman."
• Yes, it was definitely teasing.
• I had no intention of falling in love—it would surely delay my projects. I have a publishing house to manage and keep running. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t fall for a man’s sweet talk at this point.
• "I’m perfectly fine alone, Anabella!" I retorted, puffing, which made her laugh even more.
• "Oh, come on, it would be like watching a soap opera. You wouldn’t give in easily, but in the end... you’d fall into his strong, muscular arms."
• This was ridiculous. It’s never going to happen.
• And I’ve never been more wrong. The first lesson I learned from this was: never say never.
• Besides, life has a way of surprising you by bringing exactly what you didn’t want before.
• "Ana, it’s fine. Just introduce me to a partner, whether it’s a man or a woman. The least I expect is some intelligence in this person," I said with a long sigh before finishing, "I trust your ability to choose someone decent."
• We hugged tightly before she left.
• After so many years of reading and rereading countless successful books, I decided to write my own story in these lines.
• Maybe I found everything that happened a bit funny, which is why I decided to write it down. Reading about it might seem less embarrassing than living through it in reality.
• Ana was mischievous enough to play pranks on me at any time, and that worried me a lot.
• As soon as she left, I went back to my desk to respond to some writers with feedback on their works and how we could design the covers for those projects. I was so focused on work that I didn’t even notice when the door opened, revealing a man with dark hair.
• He was handsome, but nothing that particularly attracted me. He wore a friendly smile on his face, which snapped me out of my concentration.
• "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Calleman."
• My expression probably resembled a character from a horror movie because I was definitely not happy about the interruption.
• "Who are you?" I asked, scrutinizing him. "I’ve never seen you here before. Are you looking to submit your work? Normally, the secretary handles that..."
• I reached for the phone to notify him of his mistake, letting a man enter my office without prior screening.
• But before I could dial any buttons, the man, composed in his formal attire, approached and quickly placed his hand over mine.
• "No need, Elys. I’m your new partner. I believe Anabella informed you that she sold her shares to me."
• He looked triumphant as he spoke those words. I took a deep breath and stood up to greet him.
• "Of course, my apologies. Anabella did inform me," I said.
• NOT! I thought it was a joke. How could she send a man? I don’t want to deal with a male partner. They’re arrogant, cheap harassers. Especially in leadership positions.
• "No need, my dear."
• Before I knew it, he had me cornered against the edge of the desk, whispering in my ear. Too close for me not to feel a shiver down my spine.
• "S-sir, please... what’s your name?" I immediately stepped back, trying to compose myself, feeling a bit embarrassed.
• My attempt to distance myself was in vain.