Chapter 5 Transformed Appearance

Karen's vision was blurred, making it hard to see Maurice's face clearly. But she still leaned in and kissed him passionately, fully aware that Phil was watching her. Karen's eyes fluttered open, her arms stretching with a lazy yawn. Then, like a flash, memories of the previous night flooded her mind. "I kissed someone last night… but who?" she whispered, a soft gasp. She couldn't quite recall his face, but the memory of that kiss lingered, stirring something deep within her soul. Why did that kiss taste so intoxicating? And what on earth are you thinking? her inner voice chided. Just then, a knock echoed through the room, jolting Karen upright in bed. Her heart raced as she guessed it might be Jane—the only one who knew where she was staying. Without seeing through the peephole, she swiftly opened the door, but to her surprise, she saw an unexpected figure at her doorstep. A tall man in a sleek black suit, his frame broad and solid, looked down at her. "Hello, ma'am. Are you Miss Karen?" he asked. Who is this? Am I in some kind of trouble? she wondered, her heart racing. Yes...I'm Karen Markson," she answered, a bit nervous. "My boss would like to speak to you." Jerry said with a magnetic voice. Karen’s gaze drifted up, landing on a sleek Lamborghini parked nearby. Her heart thudded. “Who… who exactly is your boss?” she asked, voice barely steady. "He's Maurice Alexander, the CEO of Aurelia International, and he'd like to speak to you. ‘Maurice Alexander?’ Her mind spun. Why would he want to see me? Could he be… the one I kissed last night?’ Karen rushed back inside, slamming the door and locking it, pressing her back firmly against the wall as her heart pounded. “Ma’am, no one keeps the boss waiting,” Jerry called through the door. "Tell your boss I don't want to see him!" Karen said out loud, shivering in fear. “By 9:00 AM at Aurelia International, the boss will be waiting for you. Remember, if you don't show up, there are consequences. You can't hide from him!" Jerry stated, sounding more like a threat. As the sound of cars faded into the distance, Karen released a long, shaky breath. I’m doomed! How did I end up in this mess? What am I supposed to do now? She sat there, lost in thought, wrestling with the whirlwind of her emotions. Karen had only glimpsed Maurice Alexander in magazines, but she knew his reputation well. Who hasn’t heard of Maurice Alexander? His company eclipsed every other business in the city and had a formidable presence internationally. Now, faced with the reality of her situation, she couldn’t believe the trouble she had landed in. Understanding just how powerful and influential Maurice was, she reluctantly agreed to meet him and apologize for her actions. She wouldn't like to be haunted by a man like Maurice Alexander. Karen resolved to transform her appearance entirely. Instead of aiming for a classy or pretty look, she wanted to appear as unremarkable as possible. She slipped into oversize clothing, donned a pair of chunky boots, and put on large round glasses. Perfect! Now he won’t even glance my way twice, she thought, satisfied with her disguise. Upon arriving at Aurelia International, she was greeted by a striking young woman dressed in a sharp corporate outfit, complete with a short skirt that exuded professionalism and confidence. “Hi, I’m here to see Maurice Alexander,” Karen said, trying to sound composed. “Of course, ma’am. This way, please.” The junior secretary motioned for her to follow, leading her into the elevator. Wow… she’s stunning, like an angel, Karen thought, captivated by the secretary's beauty as they ascended. Karen admired the junior secretary for her appearance, and as they arrived on the 8th floor, she was even more dazzled. As Karen stepped off the elevator, she couldn’t help but notice the other employees, each one looking strikingly beautiful in their polished corporate attire. ‘Are all the employees here this beautiful?’ She mused. Maurice Alexander must have a thing for pretty girls. Walking down the hallway, she spotted the senior secretary, Shontel. In her early 40s, Shontel exuded a timeless beauty that was utterly captivating. ‘Wow! What a beauty! Does this company only hire stunning women?’ Maurice Alexander must be quite the flirt. The junior secretary introduced Karen to Shontel, who seamlessly took charge of the situation. "You are welcome to Aurelia International, this way please." She said, sounding professional, as if they had been eagerly anticipating Karen’s arrival. “I’m Shontel, the senior secretary. I know this is your first visit to Aurelia International, and I bet you’re impressed by everything you see,” Shontel said with a teasing smile as she guided Karen forward. "“Absolutely, everything and everyone looks flawless…” Karen replied nervously. Karen trailed closely behind Shontel until they reached a striking silver door adorned with gold accents. The sight of it left her awestruck; it felt like stepping into another realm. With a gentle knock, Shontel pushed the door open, and Karen stepped inside. Maurice stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, his gaze fixed on the city below, hands resting casually behind his back. “Hello, sir… I’m here,” Karen announced, her voice wavering as she tried to catch his attention. Maurice turned slowly, his intense blue eyes locking onto her, his striking features almost overwhelming. ‘Oh my gosh! He’s so handsome… is he even real?’ Unable to resist, Karen found herself captivated by Maurice Alexander. But the moment his gaze met hers, she quickly looked away, Maurice stepped closer, closing the distance until only a sliver of space remained between them. "Karen Markson…" he murmured, brushing his lips against hers, his hands beginning to explore her curves. As he reached to unbutton her shirt, his fingers grazing the fabric near her bra, Karen suddenly pushed him back. “Let go of me!” she shouted, her voice sharp and defiant. “Are you really trying to force yourself on me right here in your office?” Without a word, Maurice swiftly retreated to the bathroom, needing a moment to steady his nerves. After fifteen minutes, Maurice emerged from the bathroom, a bit more composed as he approached Karen. "Look, I'm so sorry about what happened last night. I was drunk and didn't know what I was doing." Karen pleaded, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. Maurice held his silence for a moment, then walked over to his desk and grabbed a file. "Here," he said, handing it to Karen. "If you are truly sorry for what you did, you will sign these papers." Maurice demanded. Karen took a quick view at the document, her eyes wide with surprise, “What? Marriage?” she exclaimed, taken aback. Maurice leaned in, closing the distance until his face was just inches from Karen’s. "Just sign the papers, and everything you did... forgotten," he murmured. Karen shook her head, voice trembling. "No—no, I can’t do this! I’ve already apologized for what I did. You can’t just force me into signing a marriage contract with you." Without a word, Maurice cupped Karen’s face, drawing her close as his lips pressed against hers. To him, boundaries were optional; Maurice Alexander always took what he wanted, when he wanted it. Karen wrenched herself from his grip, her heart pounding. 'If I stay here, who knows what he'll try next? I need to get out—now.' Anger flared in her mind. 'What an absolute jerk!' Maurice chuckled, slipping his hands back into his pockets as he prowled around Karen like a predator savoring the chase. "You slapped me," he murmured, voice dangerously low. "In my entire life, no one has dared lay a finger on me. So, tell me—how do you plan to make up for that?" "I could let you rot in jail for that, you know," he continued, a smug smirk on his face. "But as you can see, I’m actually doing you a favor." ‘I slapped him? I actually slapped him? What on earth did I do last night? Oh, no—I’m so completely, utterly doomed!’ "Please, forgive me, I didn't mean for any of that to happen." Karen pleaded. "No need for any further apologies, the deed has been done and the only way to move forward is for you to sign this," Maurice snapped, his finger jabbing at the document. Karen's frustration ignited, fueled by her exhaustion with the ongoing drama. Without hesitation, she marched over to Maurice's desk and firmly laid the document down, determined to take charge of the situation. "You can't make me marry you, no matter what tactics you try," Karen declared, brushing past Maurice as she made her way to the door. Maurice observed her in silence as she rushed out of his office, looking as if she were being pursued. He gave a sly smile and took a seat on his office chair. He had no reason to stress or sweat. There was no way Karen could escape Maurice Alexander, a man who had the city in the palm of his hand. Nothing escaped his notice—not a single detail. Karen took a deep breath of relief as she exited the company. She quickly dialed Jane's number and asked her to meet up with her at The Gourmet Corner, a trendy restaurant in the city. In under 30 minutes, Jane arrived and joined Karen, who was eagerly waiting at a table. "“Hey, what’s going on? You sounded really tense, so I hurried over,” Jane said, unstrapping her handbag and settling into her seat. “I’m in serious trouble, Jane, and I’m really scared right now. I have no idea what to do,” Karen replied, her voice low and frantic to keep their conversation discreet. Jane urged her to explain the situation, wanting to know exactly what Karen had gotten herself into. With no hesitation, Karen spilled every detail. Jane's eyes grew wide with disbelief as she absorbed the story. “Hold on, Karen. Are you saying you didn’t just accidentally kiss Maurice Alexander, but you actually laid your hands on him too?" Jane asked, incredulous. It was evident that Jane was genuinely worried about Karen. "Karen, I was drunk and unaware of what I was doing. If only I hadn't met up with that jerk, Phil, I wouldn't be in this mess right now." Karen lamented. “Girl, you’re in deep trouble,” Jane said with a teasing smirk. As their conversation deepened, a waiter approached the table and slid a document in front of Karen, drawing her attention away from their discussion.