(Elena's POV)
Two aspirins and an iced coffee and yet I still feel hot, with a slight hangover headache.
At least I look good.
Hair brushed. Lip gloss on. Fresh blouse tucked into my high-waisted skirt. I even threw on low heels to distract myself from the "I slept with a stranger and stole his jacket" vibe clinging to my aura.
I slide into the office, only thirteen minutes late, and immediately regret it.
"Elena Hayes!"
Charlotte's voice rings out like a loudspeaker. Of course she's at her desk with her coffee and that look that means trouble is coming.
"Someone finally decided to grace us with her presence," Charlotte says the moment I reach my desk.
I drop my bag with a groan and flop into my chair. "Can you not yell? My brain is two seconds from having a migraine"
She leans in. "I finished talking to my ex and waited for you at the bar, Elena. I turned around, and poof! you'd vanished. Tell me you didn't go home with one of those men."
I side-eye her, lips twitching. "What if I did?"
She gasps like I just admitted to murder. "You did!" I don't deny it.
Her jaw drops. "Don't play coy. You left with him, didn't you? Oh my God, you did! Did...did you have sex with him?!"
"Lower your voice," I hiss, cheeks on fire.
Her eyes go full Disney-princess wide. "You did! You went home with that sexy man!"
I groan. "Can we not do this at 9 a.m.? My skull is literally pulsing."
She gasps. "You've got a hangover! Oh my God, you definitely had sex."
I shrug, too tired to fake innocence. "Let's just say... I now understand the term devoured."
Charlotte grabs her coffee and clutches it to her chest. "You absolute menace. Who was he?"
I try to smother the grin tugging at my lips. "No names. I didn't ask. He didn't offer to tell me"
"Oh my God." She fans herself. "A One night stand with a walking god? "You glorious, reckless, beautiful woman. I am so proud of you. Also, I demand a full spill over lunch. No skipping out."
I laugh, regretting it instantly because my head hurts. "Remind me to tell you everything when my brain stops screaming."
I manage to get through the next few hours in a caffeine-induced haze, responding to emails and working.
Then the office intercom rings.
"Team Hayes and relevant staff, please report to Conference Room A for an immediate client meeting."
Emergency meetings usually mean new clients. Which means I might have to do try harder to be professional.
The conference room is cool and quiet when I walk in. I take a seat near the far side, not really paying attention as I open my notepad and click my pen. It must be just another high-pressure client situation.
Then I hear the door open behind me.
I turn. And I see him.
Him.
The man whose mouth was on my skin just hours ago. There he is, Mr. Anonymous One-Night Stand, in a black tailored suit. He doesn't look away. Doesn't blink. His gaze pins me in place like he's undressing me all over again. Those sharp, burning eyes lock on mine like he's not surprised to see me.
No. No, no, no.
I sit frozen, throat dry, heart pounding so loud I'm sure Charlotte can hear it.
He's here. In my office. Not as a one-night fling. He's a client.
My boss stands. "Team, please welcome Mr. Dante Romano and his associate. They represent a private group in need of urgent cyber-security support."
Dante.
He gives the room a cool nod and takes his seat.
"Due to a suspected breach, we're seeking discretion and fast solutions," he says smoothly. "There are potential risks to our confidential investments and offshore activity. Our systems may have been compromised."
God, even his voice sounds sinful.
My boss clears his throat. "This is extremely sensitive. We'll need to assign a lead analyst to the case immediately."
Please don't say my name. Please don't say my...
"We'll need our most efficient minds on this. Miss. Elena, you're best suited for this. I'm assigning you as lead."
My heart stops, I glance at Dante, Mr. Romano who is now watching me like a panther in a zoo, calm and calculating.
"I…" I force my mouth to function. "Understood."
"Good," Dante says, his gaze not leaving mine, watching me visibly panic. "We're trusting you with this."
His words land heavier than they should.
I want to disappear under the table and never return. But Dante doesn't even blink. He watches me, calm and composed like he didn't have his mouth between my thighs less than twelve hours ago.
"Excellent," Mr. Carter, my boss nods. "Mr. Romano, if you'd like to share a brief overview?"
Dante finally breaks eye contact to address the room, and just like that, the power balance flips again.
"My team identified several threats overnight. Unauthorized access attempts on internal platforms, data breaches, red-flag movement across a handful of sites connected to our private investments. We're not dealing with amateurs. We need professional discretion."
"Mr. Romano will talk directly with you. Set up the file by this afternoon"
I scribble that down, even though I feel like my hand is shaking.
When the meeting wraps, I stand too quickly, barely remembering to gather my things. As I head for the door, I feel him close to me.
"Morning, siren." Low, quiet, only for my ears
My knees nearly buckle. What. The. Hell.
And now I'm supposed to work with him?
I am so, so doomed.