CECILIA'S POV
"You're glowing," Gina whispered, nudging me as we entered the office kitchen.
I rolled my eyes, but a traitorous smile crept onto my lips. "Shut up, Gina."
"No, really. Did Samuel finally confess he can't breathe without you?" she teased, batting her lashes exaggeratedly.
"Please," I scoffed, but the butterflies fluttered like mad in my belly. Last night was something—Samuel had been kind, patient, and sincere. And the way he'd looked at me after I kissed him—like I'd hung the stars just for him—it messed with my resolve.
Still, I couldn't make it too easy for him. Let him sweat a bit. A girl had to keep her dignity, right?
I walked out of the kitchen and nearly crashed into—you guessed it—Samuel. CEO suit. Perfect hair. Smile that could weaken steel beams.
"Morning," he said, eyes twinkling.
"Morning, sir," I replied smoothly, brushing past him as if I hadn't spent all night replaying the sound of his laugh in my head.
"Oh, so we're back to 'sir' again?"
I turned halfway, smirking. "We're at work, aren't we?"
His grin deepened, and he leaned in ever so slightly. "You weren't this formal when you kissed me like your life depended on it."
I gasped softly and looked around. Thankfully, no one was in earshot. "Samuel!" I whispered, my face turning red.
He chuckled and strolled away, clearly enjoying the flustered mess he'd turned me into.
SAMUEL'S POV
God help me, I was whipped.
I used to be the guy who managed billion-dollar acquisitions and remained cool under pressure. Now? A single smile from Cecilia could make me forget my passwords.
But I wasn't going to screw this up again. She and Leo were everything. I needed to prove I was serious, that I was here for the long haul.
So, I did what any sensible man would do—I ordered her favorite coffee and left it on her desk with a sticky note that said, "No strings. Just caffeine and affection."
She tried to pretend she wasn't touched, but I saw the tiny smile she bit back.
Progress.
Just as I was walking toward the boardroom, my phone buzzed. A message from a number I hadn't seen in a while.
Vanessa: Lunch today? I'm back in town and we have a lot to catch up on.
My stomach twisted. Vanessa. My ex. The woman who left when things got tough. I hadn't spoken to her in months.
I was about to ignore the message when she sent another.
Vanessa: Please, Samuel. It's important.
Damn it.
CECILIA'S POV
I wasn't jealous.
Okay, maybe a little.
Okay fine—I was mentally building a voodoo doll of the woman sitting across from Samuel in that café across the street.
Who wore stilettos to a casual lunch? Vanessa, apparently.
The woman was flawless. Her laugh was obnoxiously perfect, and she touched his arm too many times. I squinted harder from across the street.
"Staring that hard won't break them up faster," Gina whispered behind me.
"I'm not staring," I muttered, even as I ducked when Vanessa leaned in closer to Samuel.
He looked... amused. Calm. Comfortable. Was I reading too much into it? Maybe it was a friendly catch-up? But why did it feel like a dagger twisting in my stomach?
I turned away and stalked back to my desk, slamming keys harder than necessary.
Ten minutes later, Samuel walked into the office. Alone.
He walked straight to my desk and leaned over. "Are you mad?"
"I don't get mad," I said sweetly, not looking at him.
He pulled a chair next to mine. "Then why are you typing your email password into the calculator app?"
I paused. Damn it.
"Fine, maybe I'm a tiny bit irritated."
He reached for my hand and gently pried it from the mouse. "Cecilia, she just wanted to apologize for how things ended. I don't feel anything for her."
"Really?" I looked at him, eyes narrowing. "Because she was touching your arm like it belonged to her."
He chuckled. "Would it help if I said I told her about you? That I'm in love with someone else and trying to make it right?"
My heart skipped. "You told her that?"
"I did. I also told her I have a son now and I'm working hard to be worthy of the woman I lost."
I stared at him, speechless. For all my sass and stubbornness, I wasn't ready for how vulnerable and sincere he sounded.
"Okay," I said softly. "I believe you."
Samuel smiled and leaned in. "Good. Because if I had to compete with myself to win you back, I'd still do it."
SAMUEL'S POV
Things got easier after that. Cecilia and I found this strange rhythm—flirting in secret, long coffee breaks, late-night emails disguised as 'project updates'.
The office was buzzing with rumors, of course. You can't hide romance in a glass building full of bored employees.
But honestly, I didn't care.
One morning, we were in the conference room reviewing a presentation when Cecilia dropped her pen and bumped her head trying to pick it up. I rushed to her side, checking her forehead for bruises.
We were so close—faces inches apart, her breath brushing my lips.
"You're lucky HR isn't in here," she whispered, smiling.
I grinned. "If HR knew what I wanted to do right now, I'd be sued."
Her laugh was like music. I kissed her forehead and helped her sit.
And then the door burst open.
Vanessa.
Again.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said with a perfectly rehearsed smile. "Samuel, can I talk to you? Privately."
Cecilia stiffened beside me.
"No need," I said quickly. "Whatever it is, say it here."
Vanessa glanced at Cecilia, then back at me. "I was just going to wish you both well. I see now you've moved on. For real this time."
There was a pause. Then she walked out as quickly as she'd entered.
Cecilia looked at me. "What was that?"
I exhaled. "Closure. Hopefully."
She nodded slowly, then leaned back in her chair. "Good. Because if one more of your beautiful exes shows up, I'm going to need hazard pay."
We both laughed.
CECILIA'S POV
Even with the chaos, I was happy. Nervous? Sure. But happy.
I knew I was falling for him all over again—and this time, he wasn't letting me go easily.
We still had issues to sort out, wounds to heal, but for the first time, I could see a future.
One with Samuel.
And Leo.