The Unwilling CEO’s Love Game

Chapter 98

Jocelyn’s heart raced at the sight of him, a flutter she could not shake off. She bowed her head and held her breath as she walked past him, hoping against hope he would not suddenly call out her name or grasp her arm to stop her.

Thankfully, she made it to the elevator without incident. As the doors slid open, she turned and pressed the button for the lobby, only to see Melvin stride confidently towards her, his aim clear he was getting on the elevator.

In a moment of near-panic, Jocelyn jabbed at the close button, pressing it repeatedly in the vain hope that the doors would shut before he reached them. But as always, the elevator doors seemed to crawl at a snail’s pace.

His foot shot out, preventing the doors from closing fully, and they re-opened.

Jocelyn’s scalp tingled, and she instinctively stepped back, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Her nerves were palpable, and she wondered if he could sense her tension. The moment he stepped in, the air seemed to thin.

An urge to flee filled her, the small space suddenly suffocating.

She clenched her fists, recalling Ursula’s advice: “Stay steady, don’t overdo it, don’t care too much. The more your emotions fluctuate, the more you need to remain cool. If you can’t face the past, how can you chase a new future?”

Jocelyn pulled out her phone, flicking aimlessly through the screen, absorbing none of the content. She just wanted the elevator to reach the ground floor, to escape

Her ringtone shattered the silence, making her jump. She quickly lowered the volume, her heart leaping as she saw the caller ID, a sense of cheating washing over her. As for whom she was ‘cheating’ with, she could not quite discern.

She swallowed hard, steadying her voice before answering.

“You’re up early,” Came Harrison’s gentle voice.

Jocelyn felt paranoid in the quiet, fearful of being overheard. She turned slightly away, whispering a soft “Yeah.”

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yeah” She stuck to monosyllabic replies, too afraid to say more.

“I couldn’t sleep a wink, Harrison said, his tone light. His morning voice was deep yet brimming with joy.

Jocelyn wanted to confess her restless night but didn’t dare.

Finally, the elevator reached the lobby. Jocelyn exhaled deeply with relief.

She waited for the doors to open, not rushing out ahead of Melvin. He exited first, and only then did she step out of the elevator.

“I’m heading out for breakfast,” She said into the phone, her voice more cheerful now that she was free of Melvin’s presence.

Harrison asked her what she would eat. Jocelyn admitted she was not sure.

conversation was light and casual, the kind of everyday chatter new lovers might share, neither feeling bored nor burdened by the simplicity of their

out of the hotel, Jocelyn had not expected to see Melvin

She gripped her

“Alright.”

hanging up, Jocelyn hurried her

ཕ ༀཅ ར

escaping that she missed the oncoming right-turning car. Halfway across the crosswalk, the

raced, adrenaline

male voice

throbbed in

she glimpsed his stern face and managed to choke out a “Thank

at a red light, she had no choice but

beside Melvin was unbearable, she lacked the

most familiar strangers, even

of waiting was an eternity, and she contemplated jaywalking just to

steps quirkened, desperate to reach the other side, to distance herself from the man who

Chapter 98

their separate way, clearly not traveling the

expected and waited for her

principal deep in conversation with Harrison.

“Jocelyn, you’re an excellent teacher. Ever

Thank you for the compliment. I’m on a mission, and Principal Fletcher

jest, nothing

to a cozy, intimate restaurant perfect for a date, booked and filled with

Jocelyn and Harrison spotted a familiar face at a table by

had not expected Melvin to be there and wondered if he was following Jocelyn.

paused, then said, “No need.”

no reason to flee at the sight of him; it would only show weakness as if she

to the window, Jocelyn and Harrison facing each other and inadvertently facing Melvin as

you want to switch seats? Harrison

Jocelyn replied, a forced smile on her lips, striving

but Jocelyn

with red roses.

steaks arrived, and the waiter poured wine

his glass, Harrison toasted,

clinking

face with unwavering intensity. “Same here.”