Kate stood in front of the mirrored doors of the Williams Foundation building, clutching her purse like it was a life raft. The sun reflected off the glass, nearly blinding her, and her reflection stared back — no longer the uniformed maid of a Fifth Avenue mansion, but a woman in a pencil skirt, blouse tucked neatly, curls pinned back with nervous care.
She had no idea who she was trying to become. She only knew she couldn't go back to who she was before.
"Kate Johnson?" a voice called behind her.
She turned to see a petite, sharp-looking brunette holding a tablet and a double espresso. "I'm Talia, Mr. Williams' assistant. I'll be showing you around."
Kate managed a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."
Talia's tone was clipped but not unkind. "Your office is on the eighth floor. You'll shadow me for the next week. You're starting as a special liaison to the executive director, but Mr. Williams made it very clear you'll eventually be managing part of the community outreach projects."
Kate blinked. "I thought I'd be doing filing."
Talia smirked slightly. "You're not a secretary. You're his person. That means all eyes are on you now."
Kate's stomach twisted.
---
The office was sleek and modern, filled with glass walls, floating desks, and green plants that made everything feel less like corporate New York and more like a luxury retreat. Her office wasn't big, but it had a window and a small desk of its own — more than she'd ever expected.
She spent the first hour reviewing digital files and logging into the project dashboards. Her brain spun from acronyms and charity portfolios.
But around noon, a knock on the glass startled her.
Jade stood there, one hand in his pocket, a half-smile on his face.
"Settling in?" he asked.
Kate stood immediately. "Yes. Talia's been very helpful."
"She's sharp. But I like sharp. Sharp keeps me sane."
She smiled. "And who keeps you wild?"
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
His eyes locked on hers. "You do."
Her breath caught. The space between them throbbed like a held note in a song. They hadn't been alone since the lounge confrontation. And now, in a city office with walls made of glass and tension, he was suddenly too close — again.
She moved to the side of the desk, putting space between them. "Jade…"
His gaze was heat. "Are we back to first names?"
"Don't," she warned, voice barely above a whisper.
"You're still running from what we are," he murmured. "And I'm still standing right here."
He closed the distance.
Kate's back hit the glass wall, and he stopped just inches away, his breath feathering over her skin.
"This is a bad idea," she whispered.
"Probably," he murmured, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. "But I'm terrible at resisting bad ideas when they smell like vanilla and break my rules with a single glance."
His lips hovered near hers.
Kate didn't move.
Couldn't.
When he kissed her, it wasn't the slow, gentle kind they shared the first night. This one was hot and full of frustration, like weeks of buried feelings erupting in a single heartbeat.
She moaned softly against his mouth, hands tangling in the collar of his crisp shirt. He lifted her effortlessly onto the desk, her skirt riding up her thighs as his hips pressed between her knees.
His hands gripped her waist, pulling her forward, deepening the kiss until it was dizzying. Her legs instinctively wrapped around him.
"You drive me crazy," he whispered against her lips.
"And you're dangerous," she breathed, eyes half-lidded.
"Tell me to stop, and I will."
She didn't.
She didn't say anything — just clung to him like she'd waited all morning to fall apart in his arms.
His hands slipped beneath her blouse, fingers brushing the skin of her lower back. Her hips bucked against his, needy and shameless.
Then…
A knock.
Both of them froze.
Talia's voice came muffled from outside the glass: "Mr. Williams, your 12:30 call is starting."
Kate's eyes widened. Her heart slammed into her ribs.
Jade cursed under his breath and quickly helped her down from the desk, smoothing her blouse, brushing down her skirt. She adjusted her lipstick with shaky fingers as he cracked open the door.
"I'll join in two minutes," he said calmly.
She heard Talia's heels retreat.
Jade turned back to Kate. "That's on me."
She let out a breathy laugh. "Ya think?"
"I'll give you space," he said, running a hand over his face. "Just… know I'm not backing off."
He leaned in, placing one last kiss—soft and slow—against her cheek.
Then he was gone.
---
Kate slumped into her chair, her heart still racing.
She wasn't sure if this new life — new job, new wardrobe, new rules — was her stepping forward…
Or just falling deeper into a man she had no business wanting.
But she knew one thing for sure:
She didn't want to stop.