My Ex Boyfriend Is My New Company CEO

When Hadley Marshall recognized Coleson Reynolds's face, her heart seemed to skip a beat.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed, feeling as though her legs might give way. She never imagined she'd see him here.

Coleson removed his sunglasses, and hearing her voice, turned to look at her. Her presence was vivid and palpable to him. With effortless confidence, he walked toward her, his long strides swiftly closing the gap between them.

A palpable tension hung in the air, pressing down on Hadley, making the coincidence feel almost overwhelming.

Coleson towered over her, his gaze penetrating and intense. He spoke with deliberate ease, "Am I really so stunning that you had to shout?"

Before Hadley could gather her thoughts, Coleson donned his sunglasses again, flashing a mischievous grin. Accompanied by Yosef Harrison, he headed into the office, leaving Hadley stranded in a state of flustered confusion.

Settling back in her chair, Hadley felt Eloise Cunningham's disapproving stare. Leaning toward a colleague, Eloise whispered pointedly, "Doesn't she feel embarrassed? Everyone was just standing there, and she goes and hollers like that—completely unprofessional. Well, that's our design department for you, now unforgettable to the new CEO." Eloise seemed intent on making sure Hadley heard her disdain. Dinn Dunn attempted to intervene, giving Eloise a gentle tap. "Let it go, it wasn’t intentional—besides, Emir Holmes is coming over."

Despite having more to say, Eloise quickly fell silent as Emir approached.

Hadley's desk was right outside the design department manager’s office. Emir paused before entering, gently asking, "Hadley, is everything alright?"

Caught off-guard, Hadley replied, "Oh? I'm fine."

Emir frowned slightly, "Were you standing too long? You look a bit worn out."

Hadley managed a faint smile, "Maybe."

"Why don’t you take a break and head to the coffee room?"

Taking Emir’s advice, Hadley nodded in agreement, and with him opening the office door, she stood and made her way to the coffee room, her thoughts swirling in confusion.

Dinn soon appeared with two cups of coffee, her demeanor upbeat. "Hadley, here’s some coffee for you."

Hadley murmured with a sigh, "Thanks."

Dinn sat down beside Hadley, her manner light and teasing. "You have a knack for these things, huh? Who would've thought the CEO would pop in? Still... gambling's not exactly the best habit."

Hadley was lost in thought, responding with an edge of seriousness, "Honestly, Dinn, if it meant the CEO didn’t turn up and I lost a thousand bucks, I’d be okay with it."

Dinn was reassured by Hadley's response but couldn’t resist a touch of gossip. "Hey, I’ve noticed you’ve seemed off. Do you... know the CEO?"

Hadley considered explaining but couldn’t find the right words, ultimately deciding it wasn’t worth it. She stood up, dismissively saying, "You’re reading too much into it. I have work to do."

As Hadley sat at her desk, the more she dwelled on it, the more chaotic her thoughts became. Yet a clear thought pushed through, motivating her to face the situation with courage. Her new job seemed to be reaching an impasse.

Eloise appeared, tapping a file on Hadley's desk. "Congrats on catching the CEO’s eye. I thought your scream was some sort of episode, but it’s more like a siren call."

Eloise enjoyed antagonizing Hadley, often spurred by their shared interest in Emir.

Hadley found Eloise's insincere smile irritating. She cut through the sarcasm. "If you have something to say, just say it. I'm busy."

"Well, heads up. I just bumped into the CEO. He specifically asked you to make him a coffee."

Hadley felt a ripple of panic but resigned herself to the inevitable.

Eloise leaned in closer, her tone low. "Feeling secretly proud? Who are you trying to dazzle with this act?"

Hadley closed her eyes, trying to rein in her irritation. "And what exactly are you getting at?"

Eloise dropped her smile, her tone grave. "I’m saying if you aim to cozy up to the CEO, leave Emir alone. You can't have both; it's decision time."

With that, Eloise spun around, file in hand, and walked away.

Watching Eloise’s retreat, Hadley felt a sting of frustration. If she really pursued Emir, Eloise would be the one sulking.

Hadley took the coffee, summoning her resolve as she approached the CEO’s office door. She paused, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Come on, Hadley, stay strong. Stick with your plan, and if it all falls apart, just walk away.

As she made the coffee, her mind raced through countless scenarios. Her choice to stay or leave would hinge on Coleson's reaction. If he nursed a grudge, leaving might be her only option.

Prepared for whatever lay ahead, Hadley felt a surprising sense of calm. She lifted her hand and knocked on the CEO’s office door.

"Come in," a relaxed voice called out.

Hadley pushed open the door, coffee in hand, carefully offering it. "Mr. Reynolds, here's your coffee."

Coleson lowered his foot from the marble desk and sat upright with poised composure. "Hadley, back again. Tell me, how does this moment feel to you?"

For a fleeting moment, Hadley wished Coleson had selective amnesia, but she knew better.

Hadley lowered her gaze, accepting there was no escape. The numerous apologies she had rehearsed vanished from her mind, and she simply took a breath and said, "Mr. Reynolds, I’m ready for anything. If you want me gone, I’ll head to HR and resign."

Coleson observed Hadley’s determined demeanor and couldn’t help but chuckle softly, covering his mouth. "What's troubling you about the company? Feel free to share."

Hadley met Coleson’s teasing demeanor with a flicker of irritation. "I realize I’ve wronged you, but I’m not going to grovel. If you plan to retaliate, go ahead."

Coleson listened, resting his chin on his hand. "Let me ask: Have you made mistakes in your work?"