Lina POV

I wake up before my alarm.

I don't even know if I actually slept. I spent half the night staring at the ceiling, replaying yesterday's interview. The way Ethan looked at me. The way he said impressive in that deep voice that did something terrible to my body.

And now... I'm hired.

I still don't know how to feel about it. Excited, nervous, terrified, all of it. But mostly, it's him. The man I thought I'd never see again. The one I had one insane, reckless night with in Chicago. The one who made me forget who I was.

Now, he's my boss.

I get to the office almost an hour early. HR told me I start at eight, but I wanted to look eager, professional, ready. Turns out, I'm not early enough.

Because when I step into the hallway leading to his office, his door's already open. And I see him sitting there.

He's behind a huge glass desk, sleeves rolled up, typing something on his laptop. His jaw's tight, expression hard. There's no trace of the man who once smiled against my neck, whispered filthy things in my ear.

He looks up.

"Morning," I say, forcing a smile.

His eyes flick up and down my outfit, a fitted black pencil skirt, a cream blouse, heels I can barely walk in. His expression doesn't change.

"You're late," he says flatly.

I blink. "It's..." I glance at my watch. "It's 7:45."

He leans back in his chair. "Exactly."

I swallow. "I was told to start at eight."

He stands up, slow. The chair creaks a little under him. And suddenly, he's walking toward me. Step by step.

God. He's taller than I remember. Broad shoulders. That same calm, quiet dominance that made me melt once.

"You should've come in earlier," he says, voice low, eyes locked on mine. "You want to impress me, don't you?"

"I...yes. Of course. I'm sorry."

He stops in front of me. Too close. I can smell him, wood, spice, something warm and expensive that makes my knees go weak.

He tilts his head slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make me forget how to breathe. "Next time," he says, "you'll add sir when you talk to me."

My lips part, but no sound comes out. I can feel my heart pounding so hard it hurts.

He's so close I can feel his breath on my cheek, warm and steady. His cologne wraps around me, thick and heavy. He looks down at me like he's remembering too. Like he's fighting it the same way I am.

I try to speak. "E...Ethan..."

He raises a brow. "That's Mr. Holt to you."

I nod quickly. "Yes... sir."

The corner of his mouth twitches, almost a smirk, but it's gone before it forms. He steps back just enough for me to breathe again.

"Good," he says. "You'll report directly to me. You'll assist with scheduling, communication, and any additional tasks I assign. Understood?"

I nod again. "Yes, sir."

"Say it clearly."

"Yes, sir."

He holds my gaze for a moment longer, like he's testing me. Then he turns, walking back toward his desk. The air between us feels electric, heavy, like something's been set on fire.

He sits down, not looking up again. "You can start by reviewing the quarterly reports on my desk. Make notes of any inconsistencies. Don't make mistakes."

"Yes, sir," I manage, even though my voice sounds like it's barely holding itself together.

I move toward the corner of the office where a smaller desk has been set up for me. My hands are shaking, so I clutch my bag to keep them steady. I can still feel his eyes on me, even though he's not looking.

This is fine, I tell myself. You're here for work. You can do this. It's just a job.

Except it doesn't feel like just a job. Not when every breath I take smells like him. Not when I can still feel the heat from where he stood. Not when my skin still remembers the feel of his hands from that night.

I sit down, open the folder on my desk, and try to focus. Numbers, charts, lines of data. It's useless. My brain is fried.

I sneak a glance at him.

He's focused on his screen, fingers moving fast on the keyboard, sleeves rolled just high enough to show strong forearms. His tie's loosened a little, and I remember what that used to mean. That night, when his tie ended up on the floor...

Stop.

God, I need to stop.

I force my eyes back on the papers, but my body doesn't listen. I can feel every nerve awake, every inch of me too aware of him.

I hear his voice suddenly, calm but sharp. "You're distracted."

I jerk my head up. "No, sir."

He studies me for a second, that unreadable expression still on his face. "You'll need to be better than that."

"Yes, sir."

He goes back to typing, but my cheeks are on fire.

It's ridiculous. I should not feel like this. Not after all this time. Not when I promised myself that night was a mistake.

But standing this close to him again, hearing that voice, smelling that cologne, it's like my body's betraying me.

Every second that passes feels too long. I can hear the faint hum of the AC, the clicking of his keyboard, the thud of my own heartbeat.

At one point, he stands again. He walks past me, just close enough that his sleeve brushes my shoulder. My breath catches.

He stops by the window, adjusts his cufflinks, then turns slightly toward me.

"You'll find I have high standards," he says, his tone softer now but still firm. "Don't make me regret hiring you."

I look up. "You won't, sir."

He holds my gaze again, and something flickers there. Something dangerous. Something that says he remembers too.

And maybe I imagine it...but for a second, it feels like he wants to say something else. Something he shouldn't.

Instead, he nods. "Good."

The silence after that feels endless. I keep pretending to read the files, but all I can think about is how his voice sounds when he says sir. How close he was. How easy it would be to reach out, to close that space, to kiss him like I did once.

But then I blink, and the fantasy fades. He's my boss. My untouchable, intimidating, insanely hot boss.

And I'm sitting here with my stupid heart racing like I'm seventeen again.

I press my pen to the paper, forcing myself to breathe. Be normal, Lina. Act normal.

But it's useless. Every time he moves, every time he speaks, my mind goes right back to him. His hands. His mouth. That night.

I almost laugh at myself. God, I'm so screwed.

He glances up again, probably noticing the smile I'm trying to hide.

"Something funny, Ms. Hayes?"

"No, sir," I say quickly, biting my lip.

He leans back in his chair, eyes narrowing just slightly, like he's trying to figure me out. Then he nods toward the papers. "Get to work."

"Yes, sir."

I drop my eyes back down.

He starts typing again, and the room fills with that soft rhythm...keyboard clicks, low breaths, silence.

And all I can think is how unreal this feels. How I'm supposed to act like a normal assistant when the man sitting a few feet away once made me lose my mind.

How I'm supposed to pretend I don't still feel him.

I exhale slowly, letting the words slip out under my breath, barely above a whisper.

"I have a crush on my boss."

Rhea POV

I didn't plan to stop by Ethan's office today.

But when your boyfriend has been canceling dinners for "late meetings" three nights in a row, you start to wonder what's keeping him so damn busy.

So here I am. In a fitted black dress, heels clicking across the marble lobby, trying to look calm while my stomach twists.

The receptionist greets me with that fake bright smile. "Good morning, Ms. Bennett."

"Morning," I say, smiling back. "Is Ethan in?"

"Yes, ma'am. Mr. Holt's in his office."

Of course he is.

I head straight for the elevator, checking my reflection in the glass doors. My makeup's perfect, lipstick still fresh, hair curled just right. No reason to look like the jealous girlfriend. Not yet.

The elevator dings open, and I walk out onto his floor. I know this place by heart, the glass walls, the quiet hum of printers, the smell of coffee and too much cologne.

But when I reach his office, I stop.

Because sitting at the little desk outside his door is someone I've never seen before.

She's young. Early twenties, maybe. Pretty in that clean, soft way that doesn't even try. Light makeup, glossy lips, and that nervous focus new employees have when they're trying too hard to be perfect.

I glance at the nameplate. Lina Hayes.

Cute name.

"Hi," I say, smiling. "You must be new."

She looks up, startled, and her eyes widen just a little. "Oh! Hi. Yes, I am."

Her voice is sweet. A little unsure.

I lean against the edge of her desk. "What's your position here?"

"I'm Mr. Holt's new Secretary," she says, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Of course she is.

I keep my smile steady. "Secretary. That's nice. How's your first week going?"

"It's... good," she says, nodding quickly. "He's very professional. Keeps things organized."

I almost laugh. Professional, huh?

Ethan can be professional when he wants to be, but I know the man behind the title, the one who gets possessive, controlling, sharp. The one who doesn't like surprises, except when he's the one making them.

And right now, the idea of him spending all day with this new assistant? Yeah, that's a surprise I don't like.

"Well, I'm glad it's going smoothly," I say. "I'm Rhea, by the way."

Her face lights up like she recognizes the name. "Oh, you're... his girlfriend?"

I smile, but it feels tight. "That's me."

"Oh," she says softly. "It's nice to meet you, Rhea."

"Nice to meet you too, Lina."

We stare at each other for a second. She seems genuine. Sweet. Probably too sweet for this kind of office. The kind of girl who thinks hard work and good manners get you far. The kind who doesn't realize men like Ethan notice everything, especially the things you don't mean to show.

"So," I say lightly, "how are you liking working for Ethan?"

She straightens in her seat. "It's... challenging. But I'm learning a lot."

"Challenging," I repeat with a small laugh. "Yeah, that's one word for it."

Her brow furrows a little, like she's not sure what I mean. "He's a good boss."

I nod, leaning a little closer. "He can be. Just don't take it personally if he gets... intense. That's his thing."

"I've noticed," she says quietly, smiling nervously.

I study her for a second. There's something about her tone. Not just nerves. Something else. A flicker in her eyes, like she knows more about him than she should.

I file it away.

"Well," I say, straightening, "you'll do fine. Just remember...Ethan likes people who follow instructions."

She nods. "I'll keep that in mind."

I give her one last smile, then knock on his door without waiting for her to announce me.

"Come in," he calls out.

I open the door and walk in, and his face actually softens when he sees me. "Rhea."

"Hi, baby," I say, walking over. "Surprise."

He stands and kisses me on the cheek, polite, a little distant. "Didn't expect you."

"Yeah, I figured," I say, glancing over my shoulder toward the door. "Didn't know you hired someone new."

"Lina?" he says, like it's nothing. "Started this week."

"She's pretty," I say, still smiling.

He looks at me for a second, expression unreadable. "She's good at her job."

"Of course," I say, brushing a bit of lint off his jacket. "I just didn't expect you to hire someone so... young."

"She was the most qualified," he says, sitting back down like that ends the conversation.

I don't push it. Not yet.

I just sit on the edge of his desk, crossing my legs slowly. "So, are you free for lunch today? Or should I assume another 'meeting'?"

He gives me a small smile. "Lunch sounds good."

"Good," I say, letting my hand slide over his tie. "You can tell me all about your new hire."

He gives me that warning look. The one that says don't start.

I pull back, still smiling sweetly. "Relax, Ethan. I'm kidding."

But I'm not.

Because when I walk out of his office a few minutes later, Lina looks up from her desk again.

And I see it. That same flicker. The one that says she's trying too hard not to look at the door I just came from.

I pause. "You'll do fine here," I tell her softly. "Just remember where you stand."

She blinks. "Sorry?"

I smile again, that same practiced warmth. "I mean, it's easy to get lost in this place. Everyone's trying to make an impression."

"Oh," she says, confused but polite. "Right."

I start walking away, heels clicking down the hall.

But inside, I'm seething.

Because I know what I saw in her eyes, that mix of fear and something else. Something dangerous.

And I know Ethan.

If he hasn't crossed that line yet, he's already thinking about it.

LINA POV

The second Rhea walks out, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

My chest feels tight, like I've been pretending to breathe for the past ten minutes. I grab my pen, pretend to jot something down, but my hand won't stop shaking.

She's even prettier in real life.

Not just the "Instagram pretty" kind either. She's the type of woman that walks into a room and everyone looks. Confident, perfect hair, soft voice, that easy way she stands like she's never had to try too hard.

I knew who she was before she said her name.

When I found out my boss was Ethan Holt, I'd done what any sane woman would do...I Googled him. CEO. Billionaire. Gorgeous. And very much taken.

Her name popped up right under his: Rhea Bennett. Marketing executive. Girlfriend. Society's golden couple.

So, no, it wasn't exactly a surprise when she showed up today.

I just didn't expect her to look like that.

And seeing her in person? It's different. Real. Painfully real.

Because I know what it feels like to have Ethan's eyes on me. To feel that heat. To remember his voice when it wasn't cold or professional but low, rough, whispering my name.

And now... he's hers.

I press my lips together and focus on the computer screen, typing something useless just to look busy. But my brain is running wild.

She'd smiled at me like she meant it, but I could feel it. That tension under the surface. That quick little scan women do when they size each other up.

The way her eyes lingered on my face just a second too long.

She knows.

Or maybe she doesn't.

But she feels it. The weird, invisible thing between Ethan and me.

And honestly? I hate that she has every right to.

She's the girlfriend. The one who gets to walk into his office like she belongs there. The one he can touch, kiss, take home. The one who doesn't have to pretend that one night never happened.

I swallow hard and glance at his door. It's closed now, the frosted glass hiding everything behind it. I can still hear a faint hum of his voice from inside. Calm. Steady. Professional. Like nothing ever happened between us.

He's good at that.

Good at pretending.

I sit back in my chair and close my eyes for a second. God, what was I thinking taking this job?

It's not like I could've known, but now that I'm here, now that I see him every day...it's torture.

The way he walks. The way he smells. The way his sleeves are always rolled up just enough to show those veins that shouldn't be so distracting.

And now knowing there's her....the picture-perfect girlfriend...it feels stupid to even remember that night.

But I do.

Every damn detail.

The hotel room. The city lights bleeding through the curtains. His hands. His voice. The way he looked at me like he'd been starving and I was the only thing left in the world.

I open my eyes and exhale. "Stop it," I whisper under my breath.

This is my job now.

This is my life now.

And I'm not that girl who sleeps with her boss.

Not anymore.

A notification pings on my screen, pulling me back to reality. A calendar reminder for some meeting I don't even care about. I click it away and stare at my reflection in the black corner of my monitor.

I look fine. Normal. But inside? I feel small. Like a walking secret I can't tell anyone.

Rhea probably went back to her office, perfectly calm. She probably laughed on her drive, maybe even texted him something flirty. And me? I'm sitting here trying not to remember how his mouth felt against my neck.

It's pathetic.

But I can't help it.

Because part of me, no matter how much I hate it, still wants him to look at me the way he did that night. To lose control again. To make me forget this whole stupid world.

And another part of me wants to run far, far away before I ruin everything.

The elevator dings somewhere down the hall, and I straighten up, pretending to work again. For all I know, Rhea could come back. Ethan could walk out. HR could stroll by.

I need to look composed. Professional. The kind of woman who belongs here.

Not the kind who spent one night with her boss and still dreams about it every time she closes her eyes.

The door to his office stays closed, but I can almost feel him behind it.

I know he feels it too. That tension. That same pull.

And it scares me.

Because I can already tell...this job is going to break me.