2025-02-24 14:30:59Chapter 6
Juliana clenched her fists as Julian’s words echoed in her mind. Messy hair? Of all the things he could have commented on, that was what he fixated on? The nerve of that man! Just because he was rich, he thought he could treat people however he pleased. A sudden knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. “Can I come in?” She hesitated for a moment before responding, “Yeah, sure.” The door creaked open, and Alex stepped in with a casual smile. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, relaxing slightly. “Mind if I sit?” Alex asked, motioning to the chair nearby. Juliana smirked. “What if I say no?” “Then I’ll stand.” He grinned before settling onto the chair anyway. She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “I’m really glad you decided to stay,” Alex admitted. Juliana made a playful pout. “Why do you sound like I did you a huge favor? I mean, it was for my benefit too, so technically, I should be the one thanking you.” Alex raised an eyebrow. “You don’t realize what you did for me, do you?” He let out a sigh, shaking his head. “If you had left, I’d be jobless by now. In all my years working for Julian, not once has he ever threatened to fire me—until today. And trust me, I saw a fire in his eyes that I never want to see again.” Juliana burst out laughing. “You mean that was unusual? You should’ve heard the way he spoke to me today. He insulted me from head to toe and then, out of nowhere, apologized. I mean, what’s the point of an apology when you’ve already crushed someone with your words?” Alex’s smile faded. He straightened, his expression turning serious. “Hold on—he apologized?” Juliana frowned at his reaction. “Yeah? Why? Is that shocking?” Alex leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Julian doesn’t do apologies. Not to his staff. Not to his business partners. Not even to his parents.” Juliana’s eyes widened slightly. “He’d rather order you to thank him after insulting you than ever admit he was wrong,” Alex continued. “If he apologized… that’s a big deal.” The weight of his words settled on her, but she quickly shook it off, laughing again. “Well, maybe he’s finally growing a conscience.” Alex chuckled. “Doubt it.” They continued talking, the conversation flowing effortlessly. “You know, you’re not as scary as I first thought,” Alex admitted. “Judging by the way you grabbed my boss by the tie and yelled at me over the phone, I assumed you were the aggressive type.” Juliana covered her face in embarrassment. “I—I can be a lot of things depending on the situation. I’m sorry about that, though. I wasn’t thinking straight.” Alex waved it off. “No worries. But seriously, if you ever need anything, just call me, okay?” As he left, Juliana found herself smiling. It was the first genuine smile she’d worn in a long time. At exactly 5 a.m., a shrill alarm tore through the house, jolting everyone awake. Juliana groaned, burying her head under her pillow. What in the fresh hell is this? The blaring sound stopped, but before she could drift back to sleep, another knock came at her door. “Hello, Ana.” Juliana cracked open one eye to see Alex standing there with a grin. “Ana?” she repeated groggily. “Yeah. I figured calling you ‘Juliana’ might confuse you with my boss, and ‘Ana’ is shorter,” he explained. Juliana blinked, still half-asleep. “Wait—you mean Julian as in Julian? His name is Julian?” Alex tilted his head, puzzled. “You… didn’t know that?” Juliana sat up, rubbing her temples. “You mean to tell me I have the same name as that monster?! What’s the difference between Julian and Juliana? No wonder he said my name was a mistake! Arrogant fool.” Alex winced. “Oof. Bad luck on that one.” Juliana flopped back onto the bed. “Of all the names in the world, his parents had to choose that one? Ugh.” Alex chuckled. “I came to wake you up so you can prepare his breakfast. I’ll be downstairs.” He left before she could complain further. Juliana groaned again but ultimately drifted back to sleep. At 6:30 a.m., the second alarm went off, this time shaking her fully awake. “Crap, crap, crap!” She shot out of bed, sprinting to the kitchen. She worked quickly, whipping together Julian’s breakfast just in time to set it on the dining table. The moment she stepped back, Julian emerged from his room. His sharp gaze landed on the meal. Juliana stiffened. “What did you just do?” His voice was dangerously quiet. “G-Good morning, Boss.” “I didn’t ask for a greeting. I asked what you just did.” “I—I made your breakfast.” Julian’s expression darkened. “What time is it?” Juliana swallowed. “6:30 a.m., Boss.” His jaw clenched. “And you expect me to eat it while it’s still hot?” Juliana felt her stomach twist. “I—I’m sorry, Boss. It won’t happen again.” Alex shifted uncomfortably from the corner. “Should I fire her?” he muttered. Juliana’s head snapped toward him in disbelief. Julian’s eyes flicked to Alex. “Go wait in the car.” Alex nodded quickly and left. Julian turned back to Juliana. “Go trash the food.” Her hands clenched into fists. The thought of throwing away perfectly good food made her stomach churn. But Julian was already walking away, uninterested in her reaction. A slow smile crept onto her lips. Fine. If he didn’t want the breakfast, she would. She pulled out a chair, sat down, and ate it herself. On the way to the office, Julian found himself absently staring out the car window, lost in thought. That girl… Her defiance. Her stubbornness. That ridiculous fire in her eyes when she was angry. Why was he thinking about her? “Sir,” Alex said, breaking the silence. “What do you think about Ana?” Julian frowned. “Who?” “The new chef. Juliana. I call her Ana.” Julian’s expression darkened. “And why should I think anything about her?” Alex smirked. “You seem to like her.” The air in the car turned ice cold. Julian turned his head slowly, his piercing gaze making Alex stiffen. “What silly right do you have to ask me that question?” His voice was dangerously low. Alex swallowed hard. “I—I didn’t mean to offend you, Boss. I was just teasing—” “Next time, keep your teasing to yourself.” “Yes, Boss. I’m sorry, Boss.” Julian exhaled sharply and turned back to the window. But no matter how much he tried to ignore it, one thought kept lingering in his mind— Juliana.
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Chapter 7Julian couldn't concentrate the entire day. No matter how much he tried to push her out of his mind, Juliana kept creeping back in. Something about her unsettled him, yet he couldn’t quite place what it was. He tapped his pen repeatedly on his desk, deep in thought, when a knock interrupted him."Excuse me, Boss," Alex said as he stepped inside.Julian shot him a cold stare. "Who gave you permission to come in?"Alex swallowed. "I'm sorry, Sir, but your father has been trying to reach you. He said you haven’t been picking up his calls."Julian’s eyes darkened. He leaned back in his chair, the pen still between his fingers. "And that alone didn't tell you I don’t want to speak with him? Sometimes, Alex, you act so unprofessionally. Couldn’t you have made up an excuse?""I tried, but he knew I was lying," Alex admitted."That's because you're an amateur," Julian said, exhaling sharply.Alex's phone rang again. He hesitated before glancing at Julian. "He's calling again, Sir."
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Chapter 8Girls. A bunch of disgusting perverts. How the hell did this loser keep track of my life? And how did she even know about Lucy?Julian exhaled sharply, kicking off his shoes with a tired grunt. "Damn, these shoes hurt." He ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing.“Tisha… ahh, Tsh…” he muttered, a strange smirk playing on his lips—one that disappeared the moment his phone rang.His jaw clenched as he picked up. “Hello, Mum.”“How are you, dear? I assume that worm at the office has been giving you a hard time again?” his mother’s voice came through, laced with concern.Julian remained silent.“We need to see you this weekend. There’s an important matter we must discuss,” she continued slowly.“Dad already told me,” he mumbled, rubbing his temple.“Yes, I know. But I need to tell you myself. I want you to understand just how serious this is.”Julian shook his head, his patience wearing thin.“I’ve heard you, Mum. I’m driving. I’ll call—”“You can use your earpods, Julian.
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Epic twoJulian couldn't stop thinking about the sheer audacity of that woman—Juliana.“The nerve…” he muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel as he drove. His mind replayed the scene over and over again—her fierce glare, the way she had the guts to grab his tie, her voice laced with anger as she demanded he pay for her drink.“Tshh! Ju-lia-na…” he hissed, whispering her name like it was venom on his tongue.It wasn't just the incident that irked him—it was her presence. Her boldness. The way she had spoken to him with no regard for who he was. Did she have any idea who she had just messed with?Then, suddenly, reality struck him.“Oh my goodness! My phone.” His voice hardened as irritation flared up again. He had left his phone with Alex.With a frustrated sigh, he yanked the steering wheel, making a sharp U-turn back to the office.THE OFFICE SHOWDOWNAlex was pacing back and forth when Julian stormed in. His assistant exhaled in relief
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Epic 4"Wow..."Juliana's breath hitched as she stepped out of the car, her eyes widening in disbelief.Before her stood a mansion so grand, so exquisite, it looked like something straight out of a fairytale. Its towering pillars, sparkling marble floors, and sprawling gardens stretched beyond what her eyes could take in. The crisp air smelled of fresh roses, and the golden glow from the chandelier-lit windows made the entire place look like a palace.Her heart raced with excitement."They must be swimming in money to afford this."Unable to contain herself, she spun around, facing Alex with sheer enthusiasm.“Hey! I'm really going to live here, right?!” she asked, her voice bubbling with joy.Alex chuckled, his cheeks dusted with a light blush. “Of course. And, please… just call me Alex. I feel more comfortable that way.”Juliana instantly nodded. “Ah! I’m so sorry for being too formal,” she apologized quickly before adding, “I must say, your house is truly breathtaking!”A small smi
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Chapter 10Accepting this job was a mistake.Or maybe the real mistake was tolerating every insult Julian threw at her.Juliana paced her room, hands clenched into fists, still fuming from the humiliation. How dare he belittle her in front of his friend? Did he even know she was a graduate? The way he dismissed her, as if she were nothing—was she supposed to just ignore his friend? Was she supposed to snub him?She scoffed.Julian was never kind. Not for a second.Everything had been an act, a disguise. Beneath it all, he was still the cold, heartless man she always knew him to be.Juliana let out a frustrated sigh, but just as she turned, a sharp knock at the door made her pause.“Juliana… Ana…”The whisper sent a chill down her spine.She knew that voice.Why can't this man leave me alone?Her body tensed, but she forced a smile before opening the door.Alex stood there, grinning as if he had just heard the funniest joke.“Umm… any problem?” Juliana asked, confused by his expression
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Chapter 7Julian couldn't concentrate the entire day. No matter how much he tried to push her out of his mind, Juliana kept creeping back in. Something about her unsettled him, yet he couldn’t quite place what it was. He tapped his pen repeatedly on his desk, deep in thought, when a knock interrupted him."Excuse me, Boss," Alex said as he stepped inside.Julian shot him a cold stare. "Who gave you permission to come in?"Alex swallowed. "I'm sorry, Sir, but your father has been trying to reach you. He said you haven’t been picking up his calls."Julian’s eyes darkened. He leaned back in his chair, the pen still between his fingers. "And that alone didn't tell you I don’t want to speak with him? Sometimes, Alex, you act so unprofessionally. Couldn’t you have made up an excuse?""I tried, but he knew I was lying," Alex admitted."That's because you're an amateur," Julian said, exhaling sharply.Alex's phone rang again. He hesitated before glancing at Julian. "He's calling again, Sir."
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Chapter 6Juliana clenched her fists as Julian’s words echoed in her mind. Messy hair? Of all the things he could have commented on, that was what he fixated on? The nerve of that man! Just because he was rich, he thought he could treat people however he pleased.A sudden knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.“Can I come in?”She hesitated for a moment before responding, “Yeah, sure.”The door creaked open, and Alex stepped in with a casual smile.“Oh, it’s you,” she said, relaxing slightly.“Mind if I sit?” Alex asked, motioning to the chair nearby.Juliana smirked. “What if I say no?”“Then I’ll stand.” He grinned before settling onto the chair anyway.She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile.“I’m really glad you decided to stay,” Alex admitted.Juliana made a playful pout. “Why do you sound like I did you a huge favor? I mean, it was for my benefit too, so technically, I should be the one thanking you.”Alex raised an eyebrow. “You don’t realize what you did for me, d
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Chapter 5"You asked me to fire her just a few minutes ago," Alex said defensively, his brows furrowed in confusion.Julian, who had been lost in thought, snapped his gaze back to Alex. "Did I? Why?"Alex hesitated. "Umm... Julia—na," he stammered, unsure how his boss had suddenly forgotten.Julian’s eyes flickered with recognition. "Oh... The Peacock? You mean she made this?" His voice carried a mix of disbelief and intrigue."Yes, sir. But we already fired her," Alex repeated, still trying to piece together what was going on.A long silence stretched between them before Julian finally spoke."Call her back." His tone was calm but held an edge of finality.Alex blinked. "Sir?"Julian’s gaze darkened. "Call her back and double her salary."Alex stared at him, stunned. "I'm sorry, sir—what did you just say?"Julian leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "You heard me. Now, leave."Alex hesitated, wanting to question him further, but he knew better. With a quick nod, he tu
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Epic 4"Wow..."Juliana's breath hitched as she stepped out of the car, her eyes widening in disbelief.Before her stood a mansion so grand, so exquisite, it looked like something straight out of a fairytale. Its towering pillars, sparkling marble floors, and sprawling gardens stretched beyond what her eyes could take in. The crisp air smelled of fresh roses, and the golden glow from the chandelier-lit windows made the entire place look like a palace.Her heart raced with excitement."They must be swimming in money to afford this."Unable to contain herself, she spun around, facing Alex with sheer enthusiasm.“Hey! I'm really going to live here, right?!” she asked, her voice bubbling with joy.Alex chuckled, his cheeks dusted with a light blush. “Of course. And, please… just call me Alex. I feel more comfortable that way.”Juliana instantly nodded. “Ah! I’m so sorry for being too formal,” she apologized quickly before adding, “I must say, your house is truly breathtaking!”A small smi
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Chapter 3Juliana’s phone buzzed, slicing through the heavy silence in her dimly lit room. She stared at the screen before answering with a weary sigh.“Hello.” Her voice was flat.“Hi, it’s Alex.” The voice on the other end was cautious.Her brows furrowed. “From the office?” she asked, surprised.“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry—”Juliana scoffed before he could finish. “I already know. I got fired. Before I even stepped foot in the office, the report was filed, right? I get it. It’s not your fault—he’s your boss, after all.” There was a bitter edge to her voice.“Yeah, but…” Alex hesitated. “I wasn’t the one who submitted the report. I think he sent it in before you even got home.” He sighed. “But listen, if I come across an opportunity, I won’t hesitate to call you.”Juliana’s grip tightened on the phone. “It’s fine. All thanks to your heartless boss.” Her words were venomous, and before Alex could respond, she ended the call with a sharp tap.Her mother’s voice came from behind. “Who was t
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Epic twoJulian couldn't stop thinking about the sheer audacity of that woman—Juliana.“The nerve…” he muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel as he drove. His mind replayed the scene over and over again—her fierce glare, the way she had the guts to grab his tie, her voice laced with anger as she demanded he pay for her drink.“Tshh! Ju-lia-na…” he hissed, whispering her name like it was venom on his tongue.It wasn't just the incident that irked him—it was her presence. Her boldness. The way she had spoken to him with no regard for who he was. Did she have any idea who she had just messed with?Then, suddenly, reality struck him.“Oh my goodness! My phone.” His voice hardened as irritation flared up again. He had left his phone with Alex.With a frustrated sigh, he yanked the steering wheel, making a sharp U-turn back to the office.THE OFFICE SHOWDOWNAlex was pacing back and forth when Julian stormed in. His assistant exhaled in relief