ERIC

Earlier, 

From up here, glass bent the light, steel blurred at a distance, his eyes wandered to his tablet, then paused.

Someone had come through the revolving doors. It was Camila.

He leaned back a little and watched. Quite amazing.

She swept her gaze across the lobby.

That was different.

She dropped her pace near the living wall, just enough to register that tangle of plants managed with impossible precision. Oh God!

She stopped at the elevators, hands at both sides of two boxes on top of each other, just waiting. No phone, no twitchy movements, not looking for anything to do.

He let out a slow breath. The unsettled feeling of spotting someone who moved through the world at your own pace. He must be crazy at this point because he's not even supposed to be staring this long at her. 

What's special about her?

The elevator doors slid shut behind her.

He sat up straighter, the meeting ahead suddenly not so routine anymore.

For the first time that day, he felt fully awake.

And though he couldn't explain it yet, somehow knew the building wasn't the only thing she'd end up quietly controlling. Maybe him too. 

Damn! And.... she's...she's fucking beautiful. He grunted at his own admission. 

>>>>Present,

The moment the doors clicked shut, the noise in the conference room on the forty-eighth floor vanished. Glass walls, city skyline sprawling beyond them, and a table that seemed to stretch on for so long you could almost measure power in miles.

Eric sat at the head, jacket tossed aside, sleeves rolled up just far enough to show he meant business, not performance. The sunlight caught his skin, highlighting the faint veins beneath it. He ignored the other executives, eyes fixed on the empty chair to his right.

She will seat beside him. He'd let that happen for sure. 

An executive started, "She's on her way. Should we start the meeting now before........" 

"We'll wait." Without giving a glance at whoever dared to break the silence of the room.

The silence stretched. One second. Another.

The doors slid open.

CAMILA

Camila walked in, a laptop tucked under one arm, gaze already sweeping the room sizing everyone up, deciding who mattered. There was nothing anxious in her movements, just straight line confidence.

"Dr. Camila," a bald man announced, standing halfway. "Project's lead biochem."

Her eyes met with Eric. No real sign of being impressed.

"Let's just get this started with." She muttered under her breath but he heard her.

With a smirk, devilish one at that, "You're late," he said.

She set her laptop down. "Uhm.....I was double checking results, sir."

Chairs creaked as a few people shifted, uncomfortable.

Eric's attention tightened. He didn't look away.

"Good. Sit."

She dropped comfortably into the seat beside him (the one that usually stayed empty unless you'd earned it) but didn't matter right now, and plugged her laptop in. A network of molecular diagrams flickered across the glass wall.

She got right to it, "The compound is holding up. But pushing into Phase II this quarter? Too risky." She shook her head, glancing at him.

"That delay bleeds us out two hundred million," an executive said, voice pinched.

She didn't even acknowledge him. "I understand perfectly." Camila met his gaze. "I also understand what happens when we rush drug trials. People die." With a shrug.

Silence again, heavier this time.

Eric leaned back a little, weighing her words but seemed in no rush for conclusions.

"Explain."

She pulled up more molecular diagrams. "We're seeing anomalies in the binding affinity tests. Push to Phase II now, and we risk catastrophic failure. Or worse, approval with hidden side effects that surface in year five."

"Like the Baxton trial," someone murmured.

Camila nodded. Baxton Pharmaceuticals had rushed a cardiovascular drug to market five years ago. Thirty-seven patients died before the recall.

"Exactly like Baxton." She agreed.

Eric studied her. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

Finally, "We delay six months. Dr. Camila runs additional trials." He stood. "Meeting adjourned."

As the executives filed out, Sarah paused at Camila's elbow. "Interesting first day," she said quietly. "Making enemies already."

"I'm here to save lives, not make friends."

Sarah's smiled. "How noble."

***************************************************************************************

Ten minutes later, the meeting wrapped and one by one, the executives slipped out. Eric stayed back and watched closely as she snapped her laptop shut. 

Silence hung in the air for a while.

Then, he suddenly closed the space between them and stared deep into her eyes. 

No, her soul. Looking at him was like staring into waves you know will pull you under, and letting them. 

"Have i seen you before?" He questioned again.

Camila met his stare. "I don't think so." Where else would she..... "Except the last time at the reception."

"No, Not that. I swear i've seen you somewhere. Never mind, it doesn't matter. This project is worth billions. I don't accept failure." His eyes held hers. "Understand?" A threat wrapped in professional language. Somehow more terrifying than if he'd shouted.

"It was against my choice to be the project lead so i don't think......" He cuts her off.

Typical. Everything has to be his way.

"Just make the project successful." She nods and stepped back away from the weird heat she was feeling already. His closeness sends distracting signals to her body cells. 

His phone lit on the table. Eric lifted it, and for a split second. Just a heartbeat. Camila's eyes caught the screen.

Her breath stopped.

The wallpaper. A woman in a white dress, back turned, hair catching sunlight.

The world tilted. Hospital. White sheets. The smell of antiseptic. A dress she couldn't remember putting on.

>>> 

"Ms. Camila? Can you hear me?"

A doctor's face swam into view. Kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.

"Where...?" Her voice cracked. Throat raw, tongue thick.

"You're at Mount Sinai. Do you remember anything?"

She tried to think. Tried to grasp at anything. But her mind was a blank room, echoing and empty.

"What... what day is it?"

"April 6th. Wednesday."

April 6th. But the last thing she remembered was... was...

"March," she whispered. "It was March. The 15th. I was... I was at work. I wanted to meet with..." Who? She couldn't remember.

The doctor's expression shifted. Concern. He glanced at someone else in the room.

"Ms. Camila, you have three weeks loss of memory."

Three weeks?! Like One, two, three weeks?!

"What happened to me?"

"We're not entirely sure. You were found unconscious on floor in a road accident. A woman in a white dress, the witness said. You'd been drugged too. Rohypnol, most likely, mixed with something else. The combination caused severe retrograde amnesia." He explained.

"The dress I was wearing... where is it?"

"With your belongings. Though..." The doctor hesitated. "It's very expensive. Designer. The police think you may have attended some kind of event."

Who was she during that time?

And why couldn't she remember any of it?

Later, a nurse brought her the dress in a clear plastic bag. Camila stared at it. White silk. Elegant. Beautiful. But completely unfamiliar.

CAMILA

"Dr. Camila?"

Camila jerked back to the present. Eric was watching her, his phone still in his hand, that wallpaper glowing between them.

"Are you alright?" His voice was different. Concerned, not cold.

"I'm fine." Her voice sounded far away. "I just... I need some air."

But as she walked out of the conference room, her hands were shaking.

That dress. That white dress from the hospital.

It looked exactly like the one in his wallpaper.

Why?

>>>>>>At her office,

Her hands shaking slightly as she set down her laptop. The meeting had gone well better than expected but Eric's question haunted her.

"Have I seen you before?" He asked her twice already.

She'd been asking herself the same thing since the hospital. Three weeks. Gone. The doctors said it was the drug, whatever they'd slipped into her drink one night. Rohypnol, maybe. Something that erased her like she'd never existed in that time.

She pulled out her journal, the one her therapist insisted she keep. Dates, notes, fragments of what others told her happened.

March 15: Worked late on cardiovascular trials

March 16: ???

March 17-April 5: Nothing

April 6: Woke up in hospital. No memory. No explanation.

She sighed.

And that wallpaper on Eric's phone. The woman in white, turning away.

Why did it feel like looking in a mirror?

Her phone rang and she picked after glancing at the caller.

"Hey girl! How have you been doing over there? How's your first day?" Evie said over the phone. Her voice mixed with happiness. She must be really happy that she kicked her out of her comfort zone.

"Where do you want me to sleep, Evie? I will be done with work and I've never done anything impromptu like this. Just finished with a meeting earlier to meet the rest of the members. All looking like i shouldn't be there with them in the first place." She replied, standing at the glass that shows the buzzling city. So lovely.

"So did you meet him? The boss." Ignoring her question.

"Yes, I did. So the house, don't skip my question."

"Okay! Your apartment isn't ready yet. So......"

" Wait what? You don't expect me to sleep in my office or something and I'm not going to a goddamn hotel." She tried to shook off that idea of going to an hotel, that idea has always cringe her and make her feel weird and uncomfortable. She doesn't know why, how it started but maybe her body remembers whatever happens that doesn't want her near hotels.

"Don't worry, Mila. Mr Dante will get everything settled for you. I'm in charge too so don't worry. So, guess what?" She could picture Evie's grin.

"What? You finally dumped that merlin of a guy?"

"Wow! You really must hate Colton. Really. I will forgive you on that, don't worry. So, I'm in New York right now." She spilled, giggling afterwards. "Just landed to come and see you, Mila and to settle your housing which is 20% reason."

"What's the 80%?" She yawned, returning to her desk and sits on it.

"There's a party in town, and I'm invited and to also bring a friend which is you."

"I'm not partying this night. I have a lot of things to do. Come settle my housing stuffs and go back to wherever party you're going. Count me out."

"It's a billionaires' party!"

"How'd you get invited to a billionaires' party?" Camila asked suspiciously.

Evie hesitated for just a second. "Family connections. Don't worry about it." Evie squealed, obviously dancing around wherever she is.

"I'm not coming. Wait ....I thought you had Colton. Does he know?"

"There's nothing wrong in having little fun outside of a relationship girl. You know why i'm dating him anyways so it shouldn't surprise you. Girl, I'm outside your office. Get down here and come change into this sexy gown for me and lets go party. I fucking promise, your apartment will be ready till then."

Camila groaned, her hands over face as she reluctantly stepped out of the office with her work bag. She got out of the building and saw Evie waving happily at her with a bag dangling around her arm.

"Baby girl, Let's go party." She drew her closer.

"I never said I'm going."

"Whatever it is, I'm dragging you there, my love." She pushed her towards the waiting cab.

ERIC

 Eric was playing with his phone. A message popped into his screen and he opened it to read.

"Eric, you need to come to this damn party tonight. Lots of girls are here. Beautiful ones and just the way you like them, dude. Don't be a dick! We need to celebrate Stephen's birthday." He read and rolled his eyes.

Nolan. That fool.

True, he almost forgot about it.

He got to his bedroom and Watson, his golden retriever, nosed his hand. "Yeah, buddy. I know." He scratched the dog's ears. "You want to go for a walk, but I've got this damn party." The room was spotless. Expensive. Empty. His eyes caught the photo on his desk. His parents on their wedding day. His father's hand on his mother's waist. Both of them smiling like they'd found the secret to happiness. They'd died ten years ago. And Eric had been running ever since.

He sat in his bed and begin dial Nolan's contact.

"Good evening, my king." Nolan teased, before bursting into laughter. "King of the jungle." He laughed again.

"Fuck you! Where the hell are you?"

"Your majesty, you didn't see my message? I think that's enough to tell you my location." The noise background causing him to raise his voice loud like they were in the same noisy room. Well, fuck that.

"Okay."

"My king, are you coming? Step......."

"Call me my king again, I will come over there and cut off your fucking dick." He interrupted.

"Yes your highness." He never listens. There's no point correcting him.

 "I'm coming over there. I need to see Stephen, text me the location. Will you?"

"Okay man. Send it to you in a second."

The call ended and almost immediately, a message popped in with the location details.

>>>>>>>>>

CAMILA

   "You going to get late for this damn party if you don't change fast! This is the opportunity to see rich fucking men! Oh my! I'm going to take home a dude." Evie squealed.

"I never wanted to go in the first place. So, don't fucking rush me and let me do my thing." Camila retorted, struggling with her dress. "And aren't you supposed to help me with this tight dress you got me. I don't think this is even my size." She stood firmly at the mirror and looked at her reflection.

The orange dress had pushed her boobs out, almost spilling from its comfort place. The length of it stopping at her thighs and made her felt exposed looking at her legs to feet wearing silver sandals. Her hair tied up in a messy bun.

Okay, this is perfect, I think. She thought.

"Oops! Let me help you." Evie helped with the zip and all set. They walked out of the small clothing store that had allowed them to change into their outfits and boarded the cab.

CAMILA

"What are you going to use those condoms to do?" Camila inquired, staring not so surprise at her.

"Oh common. Don't be so naive. You know what it's used for. " Evie nudged her.

"You're getting more corrupt. Day by Day. I still don't know why am still friends with you." She shook her head, taking out her phone to look at the time.

It's past 8 already. She sighed.

"We can never break up girlfriend." Evie chuckled, while she does a retouch of her makeup.

Camila thought of how the party would end like, seeing that his boss will definitely be there. What would he think of her? When she's supposed to be buried in the project work and to make it successful.

Whatever. It's just once. They might not even cross path.

Evie walked out majestically in her heels while Camila quickly fixed her dress and looked around the building. She really hates loud parties but Evie had begged and dragged her here and she's left with no choice as far as her apartment will be ready. 

Music blasting through the speakers loudly and the cheers of people dancing with one drink or two in hands.   

"Wow! You look stunning Evie." A man's voice got her attention that made her turned back. A dark brown hair dude with matching eye color. He's good-looking in that Hawaii shirt he wore and smirk that seems to stir something in her. 

 "Hey Stephen! Happy birthday! Thanks for the invite." Evie moved closer hug him.

"You're welcome. I see you brought a friend." The dude looked at him. His stares making her uncomfortable as he checked her out, licking his lips. "Hi, beautiful!" He extended his hand.

 Camila took his hand. "Hello, happy birthday to you." He held unto it and raised it up to his lips and kissed it before releasing it. 

 "Thank you, Lovely. Welcome to the party. Enjoy yourself. I have to catch up with my niggas. See you soon." He replied with a smile which she returned as well.

 "Okay, uhmm....is Nolan here?" Evie asked.

"Nolan? Why are you asking of him? I thought you guys aren't on good terms." Stephen arched his brows at her.

 "Answer the question."

 "Yeah, he got here already. The great majesty is here too. Came him some minutes ago." 

 "Okay, for now, we need to enjoy ourself first. We will come over soon." Turned to Camila, "Lets go show some dance moves over there." She pointed at the crowded dance floor.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Camila breathed out. She was not used to dancing in public like this.

 The music changed and she took a step made her almost bump into the waiter carrying tray with champagnes. 

 "Sorry." She muttered an apology.

Then she felt eyes staring at her. She was certain, her hair stood straight on her skin and she turned to wherever her instincts took her to.

Up at the gallery, dressed in gray shirt that fitted that perfect body and rolled sleeves that showed his abs was Eric, staring at her. She shouldn't be thinking so much when it comes to her grumpy boss. She had wanted to avoid him at all cost but why is she having these tiny bits of thought about him. 

'Focus on he's still wicked.' She nodded inwardly. Him being here shouldn't be an obstacle. 

She gulped as their eyes met. None of them planning to break the contact. Camila's legs were beginning to get jelly. 

"Hey girlie," Evie interrupted. Before she could look back at him, he wasn't there. Like he was an illusion. "Let's go meet the celebrant and his friends. Oh! And your boss is there if you don't mind."

Without waiting for an answer, she dragged her out of the dance floor. They climbed the stairs up to a more reserved place, warm and dim lightning. Evie knocked once and entered. In the room, were three men. Two were laughing serious while the other, her boss glared at them. His attention shifted when the two girls announced their presence.

"Hey boys!" Camila shook her head on the kind of audacity Evie had. Maybe she'd forgotten Eric is her boss as well. 

Probably thinking he won't know her. Okay, time will tell.

"Oh! You're here! Come sit over here." Stephen urged them forward to sit; Evie sat between Nolan and Stephen while Camila sat beside Eric. Her heart racing as she clutched her purse tightly to herself. This is the second time today she'd been close to him.

"Wow! Can't believe starfish really got here? Hey little fish." Nolan waved at Evie who returned it a pinch on his lap that made him groan a little. He whispered something in her ear and caused her fury expression. 

"I'm going to cut it off before you even think of that." Evie warned. 

Okay, so what's going on here? Evie knew these guys like they've been friends for decades or something. She's starting to feel uncomfortable. She could feel Eric gaze at her few times and when she'd look to confirm, he turned his head.

"What's your name?" Nolan questioned, facing her.

"Camila." She answered, clearing her throat. 

God this feels like a blind date!

"Hmm....nice name. So you stay here or you're just like starfish?" 

"I work here, in TheSlyvester Inc."

"Oh! Eric, you have a beautiful employee right beside you. I hope you're not firing her tomorrow cause she's breathing the same air as you." Nolan wiggled his brows with a smile.

Eric ignored and drank the whole content of his drink and got up.

"I'm leaving. See you tomorrow." His thick voice sending shiver down Mila spine. Her thighs pressed together and bit her lips. 

She must be sick! God! This isn't what she wanted to feeling around him.

"Are you coming or not? Or you know the way already?" His questioned was directed to Camila. 

Mila tilted her head in confusion. "Sir? Me? Where? I do not understand you." She glanced at Evie who only shrugged.

Is this a set up or something? He wants to take her somewhere and do what? No, he thought she's going to be a one night stand? Well, fuck him if that's it. 

Eric turned to Evie and cocked his brow, "Vee, you didn't tell her? Anyway, I don't want to waste any further time here. I'm out." He took a step forward when Evie got up to her feet to hold him back.

Vee? Wow! They know each other? Can someone at least shed more light on this darkness that's covering the room right now? She stared at the two of them, obviously the confused one in the room as others were grinning from ear to ear. 

"Evie, what's going on?" Camila's voice was tight.

"Oh, baby girl! Eric is my cousin," Evie said. "My dad, Mr. Dante is his uncle."

The room tilted.

Eric. Sylvester. Was. Evie's. Cousin.

"And the apartment?" Camila barely recognized her own voice.

"Is mine," Eric said from the doorway. "Empty unit. My property manager suggested renting it out." His eyes met hers. "Evie vouched for you."

"I can find somewhere else ...."

"It's already arranged." He turned to leave. "But, yyou're welcome to look elsewhere, but I leave in ten minutes with or without you. Your things are already there."

Stephen whistled low. "Damn, Eric. You're really going out of your way for an employee."

Eric's jaw tightened. He didn't answer.

Camila stood frozen, her mind racing. Live in her boss's property? The same boss she'd been avoiding for years? The same man whose phone wallpaper had her photo?

"Camila?" Evie's voice was gentle. "It's just a house. And it's a really nice house."

Just a house.

So why did it feel like a trap?

Or worse, an opportunity she was terrified to take?

"Fine," she heard herself say. "But just until I find something else."

Eric's eyes flashed with something she couldn't name. "Whatever."

As she followed him out into the night, Camila realized two things:

One: she'd just agreed to live in her mysterious, grumpy boss's property.

Two: the man who claimed not to remember her had a photo of her on his phone.

And she was going to find out why. Why she also can't remember properly how or where she took that photo. But that person is definitely her.