ANNA HAD JUST REACHED the glass doors, ready to breathe fresh air and finally calm her racing heart, when the receptionist called out sharply behind her.

"You. "

The woman didn't even bother to look up fully from her screen. "The CEO wants to see you. Now."

Her tone was clipped, irritated, like Anna had personally ruined her entire morning. Anna blinked, confused.

"Sorry... the C–CEO?" she asked.

The receptionist rolled her eyes dramatically, leaning back in her seat with exaggerated impatience. "Yes. The CEO. Or do you need me to spell it for you? Take the elevator to the top floor. They said you should come immediately."

Anna swallowed the irritation burning in her chest. This woman again. But she kept her mouth shut, nodded politely, and made her way to the elevator. Her palms were sweating by the time the doors opened into a quiet, expensive-looking hallway.

Then she saw his name on the frosted glass door.

Blake Harrington – CEO

Her breath caught.

She knocked once.

"Come in," his voice answered, smooth and calm.

She stepped inside. He was standing by the window, tall, composed, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms. When he turned to face her, his expression softened-barely-but she caught it.

"Anna," he said, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk. "Please, sit."

But she stayed standing.

Blake raised a brow. "You did incredibly well today. Better than I even predicted. I was... amused. Impressed, actually."

Anna's jaw tightened. "Thank you, sir."

He noticed the edge in her voice. "You're angry."

"I'm not angry," she lied.

He stepped closer, studying her carefully. "Do you know why I kept attacking you with questions in there? Why I pushed you harder than every other candidate?"

Anna's eyes flicked away. "Because... we were strangers, right? That's what you were acting like."

Blake stared at her, confused. "Strangers?" He paused. "You're going to pretend we didn't share a night?"

Her breath hitched before she forced her calm back into place.

Blake's eyes dropped briefly to what she was wearing-his shirt, his trousers, tucked and styled neatly on her frame. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "You look good. Better than I expected in my clothes."

Anna exhaled, embarrassed. "I'm sorry for taking them. Truly. And... thank you. For giving me another chance after I-after everything." She swallowed. "But I'd appreciate it if you treat me like an ordinary worker. Not like... your one-night mistress."

Blake froze.

His eyes flickered with something unreadable-hurt? Surprise? Regret?-then he looked away.

A long, heavy silence fell between them.

Finally he nodded once. "You're right. I got too familiar. I apologize."

Anna stayed still, her heartbeat finally slowing as the power in the room shifted back in her favour.

She cleared her throat gently. "If that's all, sir... I'd like to go."

Blake's jaw flexed, but he quietly said, "That's all."

Anna turned, walked out of his office, and closed the door behind her-leaving Blake standing in the middle of the room, suddenly too aware of the space she had just left behind.

The office buzzed like a relentless hive as Anna waked in the next morning. She held her bah close to her body, shoulders squared,her chin slightly raised because she had promised herself she would walk into this new job with confidence, no matter how intimidating everything felt. She ignored the stares, whispers and the way the receptionist, that same rude woman from yesterday, gave her a slow smirk that felt like a slap.

Anna stepped into the marketing floor, where rows of sleek desks stood in perfect alignment. Her colleagues were already settled, clicking away on keyboards or pretending to work while eyeing her. Especially now that everyone knew she had been sent directly to the CEO's office in her first day. That alone had caused a storm of gossip. And she felt it floating around her like perfume.

She dropped her bag, opened her laptop, and tried to pretend her hands weren't shaking. Before she could even take a breath,her office phone blinked. Incoming call:CEO's office Her heart jumped. She swallowed hard and answered. " Good morning sir." Blake's voice filled her ear, love and steady. "Come up."

Just that. Two words.

She quickly stood, smoothed her skirt down, thankfully not his clothes today and hurried into the elevator. The climb felt slow, suffocating, as if every floor stretched the moment. When she stepped into his office, Blake was already seated, posture perfect, eyes unreadable. "Sit," he said, but this time, Anna obeyed. He folded his arms. "I have a task for you. You'll be in charge of revving a wine brand that has been dying for months." He slid a file across the table. " Chàteau Rouge." Anna opened the file and winced. The numbers were terrible. Sales were low. Reviews were mixed. Marketing attempts had failed. " It's one of our poorest performing labels," Blake continued. " I want you to push it. You want to prove yourself? Then prove it."

Something flickered inside Anna's chest, not approval, not encouragement, but a challenge.A flame. She nodded. "I'll do it "

He gave a small, satisfied smirk. " Good . You have two weeks."

Her breath hitched. "Two -?"

" That will be all. You're dismissed."

Anna left the office, half terrified, half determined. As the elevator doors slid shut, she exhaled shakily and pressed a palm to her chest.

Two weeks, one failing product. A whole company watching her to see if she would fail. She didn't know whether Blake believed she could do it...or whether he wanted to see her struggle. Either way,she would prove him wrong.

ANNA POURED HERSELF INTO project till it consumed her. She studied every detail of the wine; it's origin, the vineyard, the flavor profile. She visited the warehouse to see the bottles firsthand. She took notes, observed, asked questions until staff grew irritated. She mapped out a new marketing strategy. She created; A series of aesthetic social media posts showing the wine in luxury settings. She worked endlessly and tirelessly, from both the office and home. Shey stayed late, came early, edited videos and handled customers feedback manually so the algorithm stayed alive. There was rumors all around her "Why is she stressing so much?"

"Does she think she's the new favorite?"

"Watch her embarrass herself."

Anna heard everything; every sharp remark disguised as a joke, every eye roll. Something it stung badly. Sometimes she cried in the bathroom and washed her face before coming out again. But she refused; flat out refused to fail.

And slowly.... the numbers began to move. At first it was a spark. Then a flame. Then a wildfire. By the end of the first week, sales had increased by 15 percentage. Chàteau Rouge because an overnight sensation. Anna could barely contain her joy; her exhaustion, her relief.

She hadn't slept more than four hours a day, but seeing the sales chart spike felt like magic. She printed the reports, held them tight against her chest, and rushed to give Blake the news.

She knocked on his office door.

No answer.

She knocked again.

" Come in," he finally said. Anna entered, smiling brightly her cheeks hurt. " Sir, I have the numbers" Blake looked up slowly, and the expression on his face was unreadable. "I did it," she continued, breathlessly." Sales doubled within time target. Chàteau Rouge is back on the charts. I thought you'd want to see...." She stretched out the file but Blake barely glanced at it. " Good," he said, in a tone as cold as steel. " You did your job."

Anna blinked, the smile faltering. " Success has no limits. Don't be overexcited over something small. There's always more to do."

Her heart cracked quietly like a glass shattering inside her chest. "I... understand," she whispered. He nodded once. " Close the door on your way out." She walked out slowly, each step heavier than the last. Her vision blurred as she reached the hallway. She had worked so hard, pushed herself given everything, solved the puzzle a whole company couldn't in two weeks. And he called it small.

BLAKE HAD ALWAYS believed his company was efficient, but in the last two weeks it became unstoppable. The sales reports were undeniable. Chàteau Rouge had transformed from a failing label into one of their top selling wine and the shift began when Anna took over. He noticed it immediately. Every morning, the analytics team brought him new numbers. He tried to pretend he wasn't impressed. He tried to pretend she wasn't responsible for the sudden spark running through his company. But he knew the truth, she was brilliant. Relentless Creative in ways his entire marketing team hadn't been in months.

But the worst part was that he wanted her badly. More than appropriate for a CEO who had strictly, firmly and clearly been told that their relationship must remain nothing more than workplace professionalism.

Damnit it, Anna...

He stood and walked towards the window, watching the city breathe. He needed her close, but she didn't want closeness. He respected her choice, but it frustrated him.

BLAKE HARRINGTON HAD HANDLED billion-dollar negotiations without blinking, faced boardrooms filled with hostile shareholders, dismantled competitors with a single signature-yet nothing, absolutely nothing, unnerved him the way Anna Jenkins did.

It started the moment he stepped into his office that morning.

The door clicked shut behind him, and instead of relief, a tight pressure built in his chest. He dropped his phone on the desk and pressed both palms flat against the cold glass surface. His reflection glared back at him through the window-controlled, composed, deadly calm.

A lie.

Because inside, he was a storm.

He hadn't slept. Not properly. Every time he tried to close his eyes, he saw her-Anna-curled on his sheets, her hair spilling like silk across his pillow. That tender look she had given him before she left had stuck to him like a fingerprint he couldn't wipe off.

He had no business wanting her this much.

He'd tried all morning to forget it. He buried himself in meetings, reviewed contracts, snapped at his assistant twice and apologized once-unheard of for him-but nothing worked.

She was under his skin.

At exactly 10:37 a.m., he caved.

He picked up his phone and typed the message he had been resisting since dawn.

"Come to my office. Immediately."

Direct. Cold. Professional on the surface.

But it was the last word-immediately-that betrayed him.

He didn't need her urgently.

He wanted her urgently.

And that frightened him.

Blake ran a hand slowly through his hair, trying to collect himself before she arrived. He paced behind his desk, loosened his tie, tightened it again, then stopped when he realized how ridiculous he looked.

He never fidgeted.

He never anticipated.

And he certainly never desired.

Not like this.

When the soft knock finally came, something inside him snapped to attention.

"Come in," he said, too quickly. Too sharply.

The door opened-and every thought in his head vanished.

Anna stepped inside, wearing a simple cream blouse tucked into a navy pencil skirt, her hair clipped back loosely, as if she had rushed in. The sunlight from the window framed her face, making her eyes glow in a way that hit him straight in the gut.

She looked unsure.

And that only made him want her more.

"Sir?" she said softly, her voice trembling at the edges.

He hated how she called him that. He loved it even more.

Blake forced himself to sit. If he didn't sit, he might pull her across the room and kiss her senseless.

"Close the door," he said.

She did. Her fingers lingered on the handle, and he caught it. That hesitation. That little breath she took.

She felt it too.

He wasn't imagining this.

"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

But she shook her head. "You texted me. I thought it was urgent."

"It is."

She swallowed.

He didn't speak for a moment. He just looked at her-really looked-trying to figure out how the hell she became the one thing he couldn't control.

He had planned to discuss the report she submitted. Something safe. Something neutral.

But the words burned away in his throat.

Instead, he said quietly, "I couldn't focus."

Her cheeks flushed. "On... what?"

"You," he answered.

It slipped out-undiluted truth.

Anna froze. Blake clenched his jaw, embarrassed by how raw that sounded, how unfiltered. He didn't talk like that. He didn't confess. But something about her stripped away his defenses faster than he could rebuild them.

He stood suddenly, unable to stay still.

He walked around the desk and stopped in front of her, close enough to see her breath hitch, close enough to feel the warmth radiating off her body.

"This is becoming a problem," he said.

She looked down. "I'm sorry-"

"No," he cut in. "I'm the one who can't handle it."

Her eyes lifted to his. Those eyes that undid him every time.

"Blake..." she whispered.

God, he loved when she said his name.

"I should be thinking about the board meeting," he said, voice low. "I should be reviewing the annual projections. But instead-"

He inhaled deeply.

"-I've spent the last three hours thinking about you."

Anna's lips parted in shock.

Blake looked away, frustrated with himself. He ran a hand over his face. "I don't do this. I don't get distracted. I don't want anyone. I don't bring... personal matters into the office."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Then why did you call me here?"

He lifted his gaze slowly.

Desire.

Unmistakable.

Undeniable.

And for the first time, he didn't try to hide it.

"Because I want you," he said. "Right now. Enough that I can't function."

Anna's breath caught.

He took a step closer. Then another.

Her back hit the edge of his desk. His hand rose-not touching-but hovering just inches from her waist.

"I'm trying to be professional," Blake murmured. "God knows I'm trying. But every time I look at you, every time I hear your voice, I-"

He stopped, overwhelmed.

Then, softer, almost broken:

"I want you in my space."

Her eyes softened, the tension melting into something warm, something vulnerable.

"Blake..."

It was the way she whispered his name that undid him completely.

He leaned in, close enough for his breath to mix with hers.

"I have a meeting in twenty minutes," he said. "Then another after that. And I already know I won't be able to focus in either of them."

Her pulse fluttered visibly in her throat.

"So I'm asking you for something I have never asked anyone."

He lifted her chin gently with one finger.

"I want you to wait for me."

Anna blinked. "Where?"

"My place."

Her lips parted. "Blake-"

"I need you there," he said. "Not because I want to control you. Not because I expect anything from you. But because-"

He exhaled shakily, the admission hurting him with its honesty.

"-I can't get through the rest of this day unless I know you're there."

Anna stared at him, speechless.

He searched her face, looking for refusal, hesitation, fear-anything.

But she only whispered, "Why?"

He leaned even closer, his forehead nearly touching hers.

"Because wanting you is tearing me apart."

Her breath trembled.

Blake's voice dropped to a plea-quiet, deep, filled with restrained hunger.

"Anna... wait for me at my penthouse."

She didn't speak.

She didn't need to.

He saw the answer in her eyes.

"Please," he added. The word felt strange in his mouth-he never begged-but it came out sincere.

Raw.

Human.

Her lips curved in the softest, most heartbreaking way.

"I'll go," she whispered.

Blake closed his eyes in relief, a slow, shuddering exhale escaping him.

"Thank you."

He meant it.

He stepped back reluctantly, as if pulling himself away from oxygen.

"I'll text you the access code," he said, trying-and failing-to sound composed again. "Make yourself comfortable. I won't be long."

Anna nodded, breathing hard, her cheeks flushed, her heart unmistakably racing.

She walked toward the door.

But just before she left, Blake's voice came out low, uncontrolled, thick with desire.

"Anna."

She turned.

His eyes were dark, intense, burning.

"Don't change," he said softly. "Go exactly as you are."

The look she gave him-shy, knowing, devastatingly sweet-made him grip the edge of his desk to steady himself.

When the door shut behind her, Blake exhaled, every muscle in his body tense with anticipation.

He had never wanted a meeting to end so fast.

He grabbed his tie, loosened it, and whispered to himself:

"She's waiting for me."

And for the first time in years-maybe ever-Blake Harrington felt alive.

ANNA STEPPED OUT OF Blake's office and closed the door gently behind her, but her legs almost gave out as soon as she was in the hallway.

Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it in her fingertips.

She clutched her folder to her chest, leaned against the wall, and tried to breathe normally-tried to process what had just happened.

Blake wanted her to go to his place.

His penthouse.

To wait for him.

Not as an employee.

Not as a girl he met once at a club.

But as someone he desired enough to lose control in the middle of the workday.

Anna pressed her hand over her mouth, overwhelmed. She had never seen him like that. Blake was always calm, always distant, always in command of himself and everything around him.

But today-

Today he looked like a man undone.

And she was the reason.

The thought made her dizzy.

She walked toward the elevator slowly, her entire body tingling with the memory of how he had looked at her-like she was the only person alive, like she was the one thing he wanted and hated wanting at the same time.

When the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside and placed a hand against the cool metal wall, steadying herself.

His voice echoed in her ears.

"Because wanting you is tearing me apart."

Her stomach fluttered. Her knees went weak. She pressed her thighs together, trying to calm the rush of heat that swept through her.

Even the way he asked her...

It wasn't commanding.

It wasn't cold.

It wasn't boss-like.

It was a plea.

Soft.

Quiet.

Vulnerable.

Blake Harrington-cold, polished billionaire Blake-had said please.

To her.

Anna swallowed, still stunned. She had seen glimpses of the man beneath his suit before, but never this raw, aching desire he had tried so hard to hide.

And what scared her even more-

She wanted him too.

More than she should.

More than was safe.

The elevator reached the lobby. Anna stepped out, her heart racing faster with every step toward the exit.

The city air hit her face, cool and sharp, but her skin still burned from the way Blake had stood so close to her she could feel his breath.

She walked toward the street and flagged down a cab, her fingers trembling.

The driver rolled down the window.

"Where to?"

Anna hesitated just a moment. Then Blake's voice washed through her again.

"I need you there... I can't get through the rest of this day unless I know you're there."

She closed her eyes and whispered the address Blake sent to her phone.

The penthouse.

The cab pulled away from the curb, and Anna pressed her forehead against the window, watching the city blur by.

Her thoughts spun wildly.

What was she walking into?

What did he expect?

What did she expect?

She touched her lips absentmindedly, remembering how close he had been, how his breath had ghosted over her skin.

She wondered-would he kiss her when he arrived?

Would he lose control again?

Would she?

Her pulse skipped, the thought sending a warm shiver down her spine.

In twenty minutes, everything could change.

Anna inhaled deeply, trying to steady her racing mind.

But she wasn't scared.

She wasn't nervous.

She was... excited.

Curious.

Hungry for whatever came next.

When the taxi pulled up in front of Blake's penthouse building-a tall glass structure piercing the sky-her breath caught.

It suddenly felt real.

The doorman nodded politely as she stepped inside. She entered the elevator, typed the private access code Blake had sent, and the doors slid shut.

As she ascended, her heart climbed into her throat.

Finally, the elevator opened to the top floor.

Blake's world.

His space.

Anna stepped into the penthouse and closed the door softly behind her.

The silence was warm. Intimate. Heavy with anticipation.

She placed her bag down on the marble counter and stood in the middle of the vast living room, staring at the skyline spread out like a painting.

She exhaled.

Long.

Slow.

Then, softly-to herself-

"I'm here."

Waiting.

For him.

For Blake Harrington.

Her heartbeat drummed louder and louder as the minutes passed.

Every tick of the clock was a promise.

Every second was a spark.

And when she finally heard the private elevator begin to rise again-Blake coming home faster than he said-

Anna's lips parted.

Her pulse raced.

And she knew...

This was the beginning of something she might never recover from.

THE ELEVATOR DOORS SLID shut behind him, sealing him inside a rising metal box that suddenly felt too small for the hurricane churning inside his chest.

He loosened his tie with one hand, but it didn't help. Nothing helped. Not even the deep breaths he forced himself to take as the elevator climbed floor after floor.

He was supposed to be calm.

He was supposed to walk into his home with the same composed elegance he carried everywhere else.

But knowing she was there-

in his space-

waiting for him-

It did something to him.

Something dangerous.

Something he didn't know how to control.

He glanced at his reflection in the steel panel: jaw clenched, eyes dark, desire simmering just beneath the surface of restraint.

He didn't recognize himself.

When the elevator stopped at the top floor, Blake closed his eyes for one last brief moment-steadying his breathing, forcing the storm back into its cage.

Then he pushed the keycard into the slot.

The penthouse door clicked open with a soft whisper.

He entered quietly.

No rush.

No footsteps pounding with desperation.

No slammed doors.

Just a slow, controlled walk - the kind that made the air thicken around him.

The soft glow of the city spilled across the marble floor, and there, standing near the window, was Anna.

She turned at the sound of the door.

And when her eyes met his-

Blake felt everything inside him still.

She looked... breathtaking.

Not dressed up.

Not posed.

Just standing there, alone, waiting for him with her fingers woven together nervously in front of her.

So simple.

So unguarded.

So utterly beautiful it hurt.

He didn't move at first.

He couldn't.

He let the moment settle into his lungs, slow and warm, grounding him even as it unraveled him.

"Hi," she whispered.

Her voice was soft. Unsure. Sweet.

Blake stepped inside and shut the door behind him without breaking eye contact.

The quiet click echoed like a promise.

He didn't speak immediately-he wanted to memorize her first. The way her hair brushed her shoulders. The line of her throat as she swallowed. The slightly anxious shift of her weight from one foot to the other.

She had come.

She was really here.

In his home.

Waiting for him.

He exhaled slowly. "Anna."

Just her name-nothing more-but the way it left his mouth sounded like a confession.

He took a few steps toward her, unhurried.

Every movement deliberate.

Every inch charged with intention.

"I thought I would be calm," he said quietly. "I told myself I would walk in and handle this like a rational man."

Her breath hitched. "And... are you?"

"I'm trying."

His voice was low, smooth, but underneath it ran a current of raw hunger he could no longer hide.

Anna's eyes widened slightly.

He saw the effect he had on her.

It made something deep inside him tighten.

He slipped off his suit jacket, draping it neatly over the arm of the sofa, then took a slow step closer.

"I didn't expect you to come so quickly," he said.

"I came as fast as I could," she admitted softly.

Something warm and dangerous flickered in his chest.

He moved closer.

Slow.

Quiet.

Measured.

Not because he wasn't hungry for her.

But because the hunger was too much.

Too sharp.

Too consuming.

Too revealing.

If he moved too fast, he might lose the thin grip he had on himself.

He stopped when he stood just a breath away from her-close enough to feel her warmth, but not yet touching.

The space between them pulsed.

"Did anyone see you come up?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer. He wanted to hear her voice, her reassurance.

"No. The elevator was empty."

"Good."

His jaw tightened.

Anna looked up at him, her eyes searching his face with a tenderness that made his pulse stumble.

"You rushed home," she said, almost accusing, almost amazed.

"Yes."

"Why?"

He lowered his gaze to her lips for a fraction of a second, then back to her eyes.

"Because you were here."

The truth vibrated between them, soft but powerful.

She inhaled shakily.

Blake lifted a hand-not touching her, but brushing his fingers through the air near her cheek.

Not yet.

He wasn't ready to touch her yet.

He needed to feel her first.

"You shouldn't look at me like that," he murmured.

"Like what?" she breathed.

"Like you're waiting for me."

Anna's lips parted. "I... am."

The restraint inside him cracked, just a little.

"Anna," he whispered, stepping the final inch closer.

Still slow.

Still controlled.

But the intensity in him surged like heat beneath ice.

"I need to know something," he said. "And I need you to be honest."

She nodded.

"When you waited here for me..." he paused, voice dropping, "did you feel nervous?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't know what you wanted."

Blake exhaled, something deep loosening in his chest.

"Let me show you," he said softly. "But not fast. Not rushed."

His hand finally touched her-fingertips grazing her jaw, lightly, reverently.

Her breath caught.

The touch was barely there.

Barely pressure.

Barely real.

But it shook them both.

Blake tilted her chin gently upward with just his index finger.

Slow.

Purposeful.

"You came here because I asked," he said quietly. "And I don't take that lightly."

Her eyes softened. "I wanted to come."

Those four words hit him harder than she could possibly know.

His hand slid behind her gently, fingers brushing the back of her neck, drawing her a fraction closer-not claiming, just inviting.

He lowered his forehead to hers.

His voice fell to a whisper.

"I came home because I needed to."

Anna swallowed. "Needed... what?"

"You."

The word trembled out of him, unguarded and bare.

He closed his eyes, breathing her in, feeling her warmth seep into him, steadying his heartbeat even as it sent electricity through every nerve.

"I need you," he repeated, slower this time, deeper.

"As much as it scares me."

Her hands rose slowly, hesitantly, resting on his chest.

Blake inhaled sharply at her touch.

Not because of lust-though that was there, thick and burning-

-but because of the emotion behind it.

She touched him like she wasn't afraid of him.

Like she trusted him.

When he opened his eyes again, she was looking up at him softly, her lips inches from his.

She whispered, "Blake..."

He brushed his thumb gently along her chin, tracing the shape of her mouth without touching it yet.

"I want to kiss you," he said.

"Slowly."

"Not rushed."

"Not desperate."

His forehead pressed against hers a little firmer.

"But if I start... I won't want to stop."

Anna's breath trembled.

The room felt suspended-silent, warm, still.

Blake lowered his hand to her waist gently, reverently, his fingers curving around her like she was something precious.

He leaned in-

Slow.

Measured.

Intense.

Every inch he descended toward her lips carried meaning, restraint, longing.

But just before he kissed her, he whispered:

"Tell me if I need to slow down."

"You already are," she breathed.

A soft, rare smile touched Blake's lips.

And then-finally-he closed the last inch.

Slow.

Soft.

Deep with unspoken need.

His lips brushed hers once...

a feather-light touch that sent fire through both of them.

He pulled back a little, their breaths mingling.

"I said slow," he murmured.

Then he kissed her again, slightly deeper, his hand sliding up her spine, drawing her in.

Still calm.

Still controlled.

Still heartbreakingly gentle.

But beneath it-

the storm raged.

And she felt every bit of it.