My Ex Boyfriend Is My New Company CEO

Emir Holmes could sense that the new manager had a vendetta against Hadley Marshall. He reached out discreetly to give her a subtle nudge of caution, but Hadley ignored him.

Coleson Reynolds noted her defiant posture and smirked to himself, determined to show Hadley what defeat looked like. He adjusted the ring on his middle finger and prepared to spin the bottle again.

With confidence shining in her eyes, Hadley took off her hoop earring and slipped it onto her ring finger. To everyone's astonishment, the bottle landed in front of her once more. This was the fourth time in a row, and whispers of disbelief spread through the room. Could it be that the bottle had indeed marked her, as the manager hinted?

Without hesitation, Hadley accepted her fate and began downing drinks, ignoring Emir’s attempts to intervene. Her cheeks flushed, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Seeing her determination, Coleson hesitated and stopped pouring the fourth drink. But Hadley grabbed the glass herself, raised it high, and emptied it with a fearless tilt of her head. Watching her, Coleson felt a twinge of guilt and decided to ease off this time.

He was about to spin the bottle again when Hadley abruptly placed her hand over it. "What's the matter? Giving up already?" she taunted, which suited Coleson just fine.

Swaying slightly, Hadley stood up. "Why should I back down? It's my turn to spin the bottle anyway," she declared. Before Coleson could respond, she snatched the bottle with a disdainful glance in his direction, challenging, "Afraid to play, Mr. Manager?"

Coleson chuckled, "You've been losing. Bring it on!" Hadley, her face a charming red, looked particularly captivating as she gripped the neck of the bottle and spun it.

All eyes followed as the bottle twirled, eventually stopping and pointing straight at Coleson. He was incredulous, "Impossible!"

With a satisfied grin, Hadley picked up a bottle of vodka, filled a glass, and commanded, "Drink up, kiddo."

Caught up in the game's twists, the crowd gasped. Emir, noticing Hadley's excitement and slurred words, whispered in her ear, "He's the manager. You're drunk. Let's talk tomorrow; I'll take you home."

Hadley frowned and brushed off Emir's hand, muttering, "There is no tomorrow; you won't see me then." She was aware Coleson was intentionally making life difficult for her, but her focus was on standing up to him. "Mr. Manager, let's finish this game."

She leaned forward and spun the bottle again, and to Coleson's disbelief, it pointed at him once more. "No way, even rookies don't get this lucky," he thought.

Hadley laughed triumphantly, "Looks like the bottle has picked you this time." Coleson, frustrated, lifted his glass. A brave colleague nearby suddenly offered, "Mr. Manager, let me drink for you."

Hadley raised an eyebrow, shaking her finger lightly. "Drinking and integrity are best friends, right? But if some young lady wants to drink for you, who am I to object? I’m generous like that."

Coleson, clearly irked, filled a glass of vodka and downed it in one go, while Hadley, fueled by drink, no longer feared anyone or anything.

In the following rounds, as Coleson kept muttering "Impossible, impossible..." the bottle unfailingly landed on him. "Damn it," he swore, but a loss was a loss, and drink he must.

Coleson paused midway through his third drink, unable to continue. Hadley leaned in, her words slightly slurred, "Trying to mess with me, kid? Who am I? I’m unbeatable! Can't drink anymore? I'll drink for you." Before Coleson could react, Hadley grabbed the two remaining glasses from the table and downed them boldly, "Two at once, hooray!"

"That's amazing!"

"Capture it and post it on Twitter!"

Having finished, Hadley leaned forward again to speak but accidentally let out a belch, causing Coleson to recoil. Her eyes were heavy and unfocused as she swayed, "Admit it, kid. You've lost."

Drunkenly, she removed the earring from her finger, "Thinking that spinning the bottle with your ring is clever—it’s not even as good as my earring," she slurred, placing it in Coleson's palm. "Kid, practice at home more," she advised, punctuated by another hiccup, her body giving in, nearly collapsing backward. Emir, ever the gentleman, caught her just in time.

Hadley was thoroughly intoxicated as Emir helped her out of the bar.

Outside, Eloise Cunningham, not pleased with Emir’s decision, followed after them. "Why are you taking her? Can’t someone else do it?"

"I have a car, and Hadley’s hammered. I need to make sure she gets home safely."

Ignoring Eloise's protests, Emir helped Hadley into the car as Eloise stomped her foot in frustration. In the car, Emir struggled to recall Hadley's address, vaguely remembering it was in the East End, but unsure of the exact location.

As Emir drove toward the East End, he hoped Hadley might regain some awareness. "Hadley, Hadley, where in the East End do you live?" he asked.

She frowned, annoyed by the interruption, and replied weakly, "East End... Lakeview Gardens..."

"Can you be more specific? Which building and apartment number? Hadley? Hadley?"

"Stop bothering me... I want to sleep... No shower for me..." In her drunken haze, Hadley began to pull at her coat.

"Hey, Hadley, don’t take that off." Emir said, alarmed, tapping the brakes sharply.

Hadley, caught off guard, lurched forward into the dashboard. A soft groan escaped her.

Emir drew a sharp breath, concerned, and gently nudged her, "Are you alright?"

"Leave me alone..." she muttered, eyes remaining shut, drifting back into sleep.

His hand resting on her shoulder, Emir tried to steady his errant thoughts—her warm, soft form close enough to stir unwelcome fantasies. But seeing her peacefully asleep, he shook off his musings with a determined shake of his head.

He sighed, realizing his only option was to get her to Lakeview Gardens and then use her phone to contact a friend or family member for the exact address.

The drive to Lakeview Gardens wasn't far, and soon Emir parked within the complex. He tried to gently rouse Hadley, supporting her as he did. Yet, she slumped against him, lacking any balance.