APKDock Logo
Chapters
share
Tempting The Mysterious CEO Novel Cover

Tempting The Mysterious CEO

After her father’s betrayal leaves her family in ruins, Elena is forced into a desperate gamble. To save her mother’s life, she must seduce the city’s most enigmatic and cold-blooded billionaire, Adrian Thorne. What starts as a calculated scheme for survival quickly spirals into a dangerous game of obsession. As Elena peels back the layers of Adrian’s dark past, she finds herself trapped between her mission and an unexpected, burning desire.
Chapters
share

Chapter 5

This man was right. Cristelle would feel like an idiot if she turned him down right now. She saw a contract lying on the desk before her. She took the contract and had a good look. Nothing on that contract seemed illegal or like a trap.

Was she really that lucky?

The payment finally made her yield. Whatever Linford Bradley’s intention was, Cristelle knew she really needed the money. She took a deep breath and put the contract in her purse, “Thank you so much for offering me such a good job, Sir. I will work really hard in the Fashion Department.”

Linford was facing the prime view from his floor-to-ceiling window, “I’m glad you made the right choice, Miss Friesley. And... You don’t need to thank me. You earned this job.”

Cristelle still felt light-headed as she walked out of the CEO’s office.

“Miss Friesley, this is your workstation. From today, you’ll be a part of the B-team in your department. This is your ID card. The cafeteria is on the second floor, and you may have your lunch there,” Alfred explained as he took her to her office.

“Thank you so much for walking me here. By the way, you can just call me Cristelle,” Cristelle smiled at the handsome young man.

Alfred smiled back, his tone polite, “You don’t need to thank me, Cristelle. Boss is the one who arranged all this.”

Cristelle was stunned. Boss was the one who arranged all this? Did Linford Bradley arrange everything for her in person? Was this man treating all his employees this way? He would be exhausted.

The assistant nodded at Cristelle politely before leaving.

Cristelle still felt surreal as she sat before her desk and flicked open her laptop. After what happened to her family years ago, she had never dreamt of having a chance to get her ideal job.

Cristelle was thrilled and wanted to share her happiness with her babies immediately.

But what was with this weird CEO? Why did he seem to care about her so much? Cristelle couldn’t wrap her head around it.

Cristelle went online to do some research. It was quite strange because there was a lot of news about the Daicom Corporation but almost nothing about Linford Bradley. It was pretty apparent that this man valued his privacy very much.

Linford Bradley...

Cristelle chewed on this name as she searched her memories. Finally, she remembered her father once mentioned this Bradley family to her before.

The Bradley family was the most powerful house in the city. This house was one of the country’s wealthiest families and connected with big political figures. In a way, the Bradley house basically had Blue Field City in its pocket. Everyone feared their name, yet they still wanted to forge a connection with Bradley.

The Bradley house had remained rather low-key.

Cristelle wondered if he arranged for her to work here because she knew he was seeking therapeutic treatment. Rich people value their privacy very much. Maybe he hired her to keep her mouth shut.

That bolt of the scar on his wrist flashed in Cristelle’s memories again. What could possibly make this rich and handsome man resort to an extremity like that? He had everything any man could ever want.

Cristelle started to have a headache straining her brain for this issue. She decided to take a break and focus on her job.

Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office, Linford leaned back on his chair, narrowing his eyes as he ordered, “Alfred, go to Cristelle’s hometown and check out her background. Be as specific as possible. And do not tell anyone about this.”

Alfred was his most trusted assistant. The young assistant nodded, “Yes, Sir.” Alfred didn’t know why his boss was so curious about Cristelle. But this girl was definitely quite important.

Linford took out a photograph from his drawer. He looked at it for a long time, letting out a long sigh. And then he threw it back into the drawer and locked it up again.

What happened five years ago? How come he couldn’t even bear recalling any of those memories? Why did everything change so drastically after he woke up?

Linford still had no clues, but he knew he needed answers.

Cristelle sat at the corner of the FD office. She had majored in designing and couture-making before her father was imprisoned. After that, she dropped out of school.

Fashion had always been her passion. Cristelle couldn’t explain how lucky she felt to be given a second chance. She would hold on to this opportunity. And this time, no one would be able to take her drama away.

Cristelle took out her notebook and started to scratch it, trying to take her ideas down on the paper.

There were a total of three teams in the department. Team A was working on the 20th floor. A famous designer led this Team. The rest of the Team were just her assistants.

Team B and Team C were on the 13th floor. These two teams were about the same level and doing the same job. They only handled samples because major fashion designs were usually Team A’s job. But if you worked hard enough in B and C, you would also get the chance to work in Team A one day.

Daicom Corporation was the largest enterprise in Blue Field City. It had many branches and businesses, but fashion was undoubtedly its core business. Every designer dreamt of working here.

That was why Cristelle still couldn’t believe her luck. She sat on her chair, scribbling on her draft book nonstop. She didn’t even realize that it was already lunchtime.

Meanwhile, the members of Team B were gossiping in the cafeteria.

“Hey, what’s going on with that new girl? How come Alfred brought her here himself?” Izzy poked at her spaghetti with a fork frustratingly as she asked.

Juliette shrugged, “I just heard that she was introduced to Mr. Bradley by Dr. Weston. I’m sure she must be quite close to Dr. Weston.”

“Really?” One of the other colleagues gasped, “Could she be his relative then?” Juliette scoffed, “What relative? When did you hear our boss allowing any special treatment for his friend’s relatives? That woman at least has to be Dr. Weston’s girlfriend for Mr. Bradley to make an exception. All of us went through hell to get to where we are right now, and this woman just spent several nights with the right person to get what she wanted. How convenient!”

You may also like

After My Fiancé's Betrayal, I Became His Worst Nightmare Novel Cover
9.8
Betrayed by her fiancé on the eve of their wedding, a woman’s world shatters when she discovers his cruel deception. Instead of retreating in silence, she orchestrates a cold, calculated plan to dismantle his life and reputation. As she rises from the ashes of her heartbreak, she transforms into a formidable force he never expected. In this high-stakes game of billionaire power, she ensures her former love faces the ultimate price for his lies.
After My Husband Abandoned Our Wedding Vows Novel Cover
8.6
For three years, Chloe endured a cold, loveless marriage, hoping her devotion would eventually win Eric over. However, her dreams are shattered when he demands a divorce to reunite with his true love. Realizing she was merely a substitute, Chloe finally chooses to leave her billionaire husband behind. As she walks away to reclaim her own life, Eric finds himself unexpectedly haunted by her absence and the depth of the love he discarded.
Breaking Free from Possession Novel Cover
8.0
After falling for a man she was never supposed to love, a young woman finds herself trapped in a suffocating web of obsession. Her partner's affection has curdled into a dangerous need for total control, turning their high-society romance into a gilded cage. Now, she must find the strength to reclaim her identity and escape his relentless pursuit. It is a tense journey of survival as she fights to break the bonds of his dark possessiveness.
Crowned in Flame and Shadow  Novel Cover
8.2
In a kingdom ruled by shadow magic, elemental fire wielders were slaughtered decades ago after a devastating rebellion. ‎ ‎Christabel is the last surviving Flamebound. ‎ ‎Prince William is the heir to the throne that ordered her people's execution. ‎ ‎When an ancient magic awakens one older than both flame and shadow they are forced into an alliance that neither of them wants. ‎ ‎But their powers react when they touch. ‎ ‎And prophecy whispers that only together can they save the kingdom... ‎Or burn it down.
Fake Engaged to My Hockey Rival Novel Cover
7.2
"Still playing dirty, Huntress?" he taunted, pinning me with those piercing grey-blue eyes. "Still hiding behind your daddy's money, Reaper?" I shot back, my blood boiling. Lanaya Roux and Maverick Hayden are college hockey royalty-and bitter rivals. As the captains of competing university teams, their hatred on the ice is matched only by the legendary feud between their billionaire families' empires. But when their ruthless fathers force them into a fake engagement to secure an $18 billion corporate merger, Lanaya and Maverick are thrown into the ultimate game of survival. The rules are simple: Live together in the same penthouse. Smile for the cameras. Pretend to be madly in love for six months. It was supposed to be strictly business. But behind closed doors, the venom they spit at each other quickly morphs into a scorching, undeniable addiction. Maverick is an arrogant, aggressively protective alpha who refuses to let her go, and Lanaya is the fiercely independent captain who refuses to submit. Beneath their explosive chemistry lies a devastating secret: a shared tragedy from eight years ago that claimed the life of Lanaya's brother and shattered their innocent childhood bond. With the national hockey championship on the line, scandalous secrets surfacing, and unseen enemies sabotaging their every move, the line between love and hate has never been so dangerous. What happens when the fake engagement to your worst enemy becomes the only real thing in your life?
Jilted Heiress: Rising From The Ashes Novel Cover
9.4
I stood in the center of my Manhattan penthouse, staring at the empty satin hanger where my custom Vera Wang gown should have been. It was a masterpiece of silk and pearls that had taken six months to perfect for my wedding to the billionaire heir, Boston Travis. Then my phone buzzed. Boston’s voice was a flat line, devoid of the love he’d promised me for four years. "The wedding is off, Florrie. I’m marrying your sister, Asia." He told me Asia was dying of Stage 4 cancer and her "final wish" was to be a bride—wearing my dress. He had sent his security team to my home with a spare key to steal the gown, claiming it was Travis property since his family accounts paid the bill. My stepmother texted me minutes later, demanding I vacate my own beach house so the "dying" girl could have a honeymoon. When I tried to protest, Boston snapped at me. "How could you be so heartless? She’s your sister. Have some compassion." They expected me to play the part of the discarded woman while they paraded my life around as a PR stunt. I realized then that Asia hadn't just taken my dress; she had spent her entire life stealing my father's love and my peace, always playing the fragile angel while I was cast as the villain. I didn't cry. I sat at my desk, opened my contacts, and relabeled Boston Travis as "TARGET." If they wanted a tragic story, I would give them a massacre. I reclaimed my mother’s multi-million dollar trust, seized the deed to the beach house, and walked into Asia’s hospital room with a lit sparkler to expose the truth behind her "terminal" illness. As I slapped Boston in the hospital lobby in front of a dozen recording iPhones, I realized I didn't need a husband. I needed a clean slate—and I was going to burn their empire to get it.