CEO’s Seduction Trap

Leila replied: [Who are you?]

The response came quickly: [Your dad deserved to die, and so do you.]

Leila’s breath quickened, and she immediately dialed the number, but it was cut off after a few rings. Another message followed: [Don’t call the police, or you’ll never know what happened to your dad.]

[Why should I believe what you’re saying is true?]

[Did your dad wear a blue jacket when he left that year?]

Leila: …

Memories from the past suddenly flooded back.

Leila’s mind flashed back to the day her dad left.

That day, Mr. Patel was indeed wearing a blue jacket. As usual, he was carrying his briefcase, and his driver was waiting at the door. Before leaving, he hugged Mrs. Patel and bent down to kiss Leila.

Everything seemed normal, just like any other day, without any signs of trouble. If it hadn’t been for the call Mr. Patel made to Mrs. Patel later, and if Leila hadn’t overheard it, she might have never suspected that Mr. Patel hadn’t run off with company funds but had been kidnapped.

Shortly after Mr. Patel left, he called Mrs. Patel. On the call, Mr. Patel told her that the company owed a lot of money and was facing bankruptcy. He couldn’t bear the pressure anymore and needed to hide for a while. He told them not to worry and urged Mrs. Patel to take Leila and hide as well.

Mrs. Patel, used to living a luxurious life, didn’t think to run when she heard Mr. Patel’s words. Instead, she burst into tears. By the time she was done crying, debt collectors from the company had already come to their door and took both of them to the company.

Leila was lost in her memories when her phone suddenly rang. Seeing Shirley’s name on the screen, she took a deep breath and answered, “Shirley.”

Shirley sounded cheerful, “My cousin agreed. When are you free? I’ll set up a meeting for you two.”

“I don’t have time today. How about tomorrow?”

“Sure, let’s do tomorrow evening then.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up with Shirley, Leila sent a message to the unknown number: [I don’t care what you’re trying to pull. If it happens again, I will call the police.]

There was no reply. She waited for a while and then blocked the number. After a few minutes of contemplation, she sent a message to Mrs. Patel: [Mom, any news about Dad?]

Mrs. Patel replied instantly: [No.]

Leila closed her phone, got up, poured herself a cup of coffee, and began preparing for the contract signing at The Ramirez Group tomorrow.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to call the police about today’s incident; she just had too many concerns. Firstly, she worried that the person might really have information about Mr. Patel. Secondly, since joining Nova Group, she had already caused a lot of trouble. Even though she was the victim in all these situations, her colleagues wouldn’t see it that way. They’d just think she was a trouble magnet.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Later that night, Leila was asleep when her phone on the bedside table rang suddenly. Startled awake, she reached out and answered it.

Mason’s raspy voice came through, “Daniel, come over. I have a high fever.”

He sounded extremely unwell. Before Leila could respond, he broke into a severe cough.

Hearing Mason’s coughing, any remaining sleepiness vanished from Leila. After a few seconds, she spoke, “Mr. Ramirez, it’s Leila.”

Mason didn’t seem to hear her and continued, “Bring some fever medicine.”

He coughed a few more times and then hung up.

Tossing her phone aside, Leila sat up and scratched her hair in annoyance. After a moment, she picked up her phone and called Daniel.

She called three times, but although the phone rang, no one answered.

Finally, Leila rummaged through her home medicine cabinet for some fever medication and headed out. Mason was not someone she could afford to offend. Mason has a collaboration with Nova Group, and she knew his address.

About an hour and a half later, Leila arrived at Mason’s villa. She parked her car, got out, and rang the doorbell. After pressing it seven or eight times without any response, she was about to take a photo to prove she had been there and leave when Daniel suddenly called.

Leila hesitated for a moment before answering, “Hello, Mr. Daniel.”

Daniel sounded groggy, “Miss Patel, did you call me earlier? Sorry, I was asleep.”

Leila didn’t want to ask why he was awake now. She quickly explained, “Mr. Ramirez called you earlier about being sick, but he called me by mistake.”

Daniel was surprised, “Really?”

“Yes, I’m at his villa now. I’ve been ringing the doorbell, but no one is answering. Mr. Daniel, maybe you should…”

Before she could finish, Daniel interrupted, “Miss Patel. Don’t worry. I’ll give you the code to get in.”

The remaining words were interrupted, and she had to say “thank you”

Daniel continued, “I should be thanking you. This is something I should be handling. The code is 241688.”

Leila replied, “Okay, I’ll give it a try.”

She entered the code, and the door clicked open. She walked in, still on the phone with Daniel, “Mr. Daniel, I’m inside.”

Daniel instructed, “Follow the cobblestone path straight ahead to the main building.”

Leila responded, “Got it.”

Daniel added, “Miss Patel, sorry for the trouble.”

Once inside the main building, Leila hung up the phone and made her way to the third floor, to Mason’s master bedroom. The door was closed, and she could hear Mason coughing heavily.

Leila knocked, “Mr. Ramirez, it’s Leila.”

No response came except for more coughing. Realizing she couldn’t expect much from a feverish patient, she pushed the door open.

The bedroom was dimly lit. Mason was lying on the bed, half propped up, with the blanket covering his waist. His upper body was bare.

Leila approached, placing the medicine on the nightstand. She reached out to feel Mason’s forehead; it was burning hot. Likely due to his illness, Mason seemed much less intimidating. His bangs were damp and plastered to his forehead, making him look… vulnerable.

Vulnerable? The idea of associating that word with Mason made Leila quickly dismiss the thought.

“Water.”

Leila was lost in thought when Mason’s hoarse voice interrupted her.

Quickly, she went downstairs to fetch a glass of water, and she also poured the fever-reducing medicine into it.

Leila leaned over to ask Mason, “Mr. Ramirez, can you sit up?”

Mason opened his eyes and stared at Leila for a moment. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed her by the back of her neck, pulling her forcefully towards him.

Caught off guard, Leila stumbled and ended up kneeling on the floor, spilling most of the water from her hand.

Without giving her a chance to struggle, Mason lifted his head slightly and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, “Leila, did you think I wouldn’t dare?”

Dare what? Leila didn’t understand.

Feeling the heat from his forehead, she furrowed her brows, “Mr. Ramirez?”

Mason didn’t say anything. His grip on the back of her neck tightened, and finally, he kissed her on the lips.

Leila was stunned. By the time she realized what was happening, Mason’s tongue had already invaded her tightly closed lips.

Sometimes, things couldn’t be explained. Like now, Leila felt like she was in a dream, but she couldn’t explain why Mason would be in her dreams.

When the kiss ended, there was no medicine left in Leila’s hand.

Mason chuckled softly as he rested his forehead against hers, his smile tinged with bitterness, “That night, I was going to hide, but you insisted on provoking me.”

Leila knew which night Mason was referring to, but she remained silent, pursing her lips.

Mason continued, “Ungrateful person. I’ve raised you for so many years for nothing.”