bound by the Arrogant CEO's Obsession

The sound of Alessia Wijaya's hesitant footsteps echoed in the grand lobby of the towering office building. Her hands clutched a folder containing her job application tightly, trying to hide her nervousness. Failure wasn't an option this time. Her younger sister, Alana, needed expensive treatment for liver cancer, and the salary offered for the CEO secretary position under Ethan Ryder was her last hope.

"Good morning, Miss Wijaya," a neatly dressed man greeted her with a professional smile. "I'm Kelvin, Mr. Ryder's personal assistant. I'll escort you to his office."

Alessia nodded politely. "Thank you, Mr. Kelvin."

On the way to the top floor, Kelvin made small talk, briefing her on the work environment and Ethan's personality. "Mr. Ryder doesn't like unnecessary chatter. Answer his questions directly and honestly. And, above all, he values punctuality."

"Understood," Alessia replied briefly, though her heart raced faster with each step.

When the elevator doors opened, Kelvin led her to a large glass door engraved with the name Ethan Ryder. "Please go in. He's expecting you," Kelvin said before leaving.

Alessia took a deep breath, knocked on the door, and entered. The office was spacious, with glass walls offering a stunning view of the city. Behind a large desk sat a man engrossed in documents, his demeanor exuding authority.

Ethan lifted his gaze as Alessia entered. His piercing gray eyes scanned her with a sharpness that made Alessia even more nervous. "You're Alessia Wijaya?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Y-yes, sir," Alessia replied.

Ethan gestured toward the chair in front of him. "Sit."

Alessia obeyed, placing her folder on the desk. The air between them grew tense as Ethan's sharp gaze lingered, especially on her chest area. Alessia shifted uncomfortably, unaware of what had caught his attention.

"Are you married?" Ethan asked suddenly.

The question caught Alessia off guard. "No, sir. I'm single."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Interesting," he muttered, his tone cold yet contemplative. "Do you feel healthy?"

Alessia frowned slightly, confused by the direction of his questions. "Yes, of course, sir."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on Alessia. "Before I consider you for this position, I need clarification. Go to the company clinic for a complete medical check-up. Return with the results as soon as possible."

"But... sir, I don't understand," Alessia tried to ask, but Ethan waved his hand dismissively, signaling the end of the conversation.

"Kelvin will take you to the clinic. I'll see you later," he said coldly.

With no other choice, Alessia followed his orders, leaving the office with a mix of confusion and unease. Little did she know that a faint stain on her blouse had already captured Ethan's attention-a man who never overlooked even the smallest details.

---

Inside his private office, Ethan Ryder leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful as he stared at his laptop screen. A video call with the company clinic's doctor had just connected.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ryder," greeted a middle-aged woman with a professional tone.

"Let's get straight to the point, Dr. Kania. I don't have much time," Ethan replied curtly.

Dr. Kania nodded. "Very well. I conducted a full medical examination on Miss Alessia Wijaya, your prospective secretary. Overall, she's healthy. However, there's one finding that might interest you."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

"Miss Alessia is lactating despite being single," Dr. Kania stated matter-of-factly.

Ethan rested his chin on his hand, his eyes narrowing. "Explain."

"Lactation can occur due to several factors, Mr. Ryder. In Miss Alessia's case, the results show she experienced hyperprolactinemia-a condition where the prolactin hormone levels increase, often due to extreme emotional or physical stress. Her body naturally responds to this, even though she hasn't been pregnant or breastfed before."

Ethan listened intently, his mind spinning with intriguing possibilities. A faint, enigmatic smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"So, she doesn't need to be pregnant or have given birth to lactate?" Ethan confirmed.

"Correct, sir. Her lactation is stable and doesn't indicate any health concerns," Dr. Kania added.

"Good," Ethan said succinctly. He ended the call abruptly, wasting no time. Closing his laptop, he pressed the intercom button.

"Kelvin, come in," he ordered.

Moments later, Kelvin entered, his demeanor respectful. "How can I assist you, Mr. Ryder?"

"Draft a contract for Miss Wijaya. Include the additional clauses I specified and ensure she has no loopholes to back out once she signs it," Ethan instructed firmly.

Kelvin nodded without question. "Understood, sir."

Ethan walked to the large window overlooking the city skyline, his expression unreadable. This advantage would soon be his.

---

Fifteen minutes later, Alessia knocked on his office door again.

"Come in," Ethan commanded.

Alessia stepped in hesitantly, holding the medical results from the clinic. "Here are my health check-up results, Mr. Ryder," she said, handing over the documents.

Ethan took the file, flipping through the pages briefly, though he already knew the contents. Placing it on his desk, he gestured toward the chair. "Sit."

Alessia complied, her expression betraying her growing anxiety.

"Before we proceed, there's a document you need to sign," Ethan said. Kelvin entered, handing Alessia a folder.

"This is your employment contract," Ethan explained. "I suggest you read it thoroughly before signing."

Alessia glanced at the document, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the salary-twenty million rupiahs per month! It was more than enough to cover her sister's medical expenses.

Without hesitation, Alessia grabbed the pen and signed the last page, skipping the details.

Ethan watched the entire process calmly, a faint smirk on his lips. "You didn't read it?" he asked, his tone flat but laced with subtle mockery.

Alessia offered a sheepish smile, trying to mask her embarrassment. "I trust this company, sir. Besides, the salary is more than sufficient."

"Interesting," Ethan murmured, leaning back in his chair. His piercing gaze locked on Alessia, as if he held a secret yet to be unveiled.

Unbeknownst to Alessia, she had just signed herself into a contract that would change her life forever. Ethan, on the other hand, knew the game had only just begun.

Ethan instructed Kelvin to take Alessia to her designated office and explain her duties, starting with Ethan's schedule. Kelvin nodded and then turned to Alessia.

"Miss, follow me."

Alessia nodded and stood before Ethan.

"Sir, I'll take my leave," she said politely.