Luna arrived at the hotel exhausted from her flight. Sweat clung to her clothes, her hair messy from the summer heat. All she wanted was a shower, fresh clothes, and silence.
She grabbed the keys at reception and hurried to her corridor—only to stop dead in her tracks.
There he was. Alex. Standing tall in a sharp black coat, tie perfectly in place, his figure commanding the hallway like a shadow she couldn't escape.
Her heart stuttered, but her voice was sharp.
"Why are you following me? Even if you're my boss, there's no policy that says you can stalk me. So stop."
Alex said nothing. His silence was heavier than words.
Just then, a waiter arrived with two glasses of water—one for her, one for him.
"Here you go, ma'am," the waiter smiled, then added casually, "You know, he's the CEO of this place. If you ever want a job, just ask him."
Luna froze, water glass trembling in her hand. The CEO of the hotel too? She whipped around, finger pointing at Alex.
"You bought this hotel? Just to keep an eye on me? Don't you respect my privacy? Keep your distance like a real CEO, not some creep who hovers around his managers!"
Before she could finish, Alex stepped forward and gently pressed his hand against her lips. His eyes locked on hers, steady, quiet, almost pleading.
"Enough," he whispered.
Luna's face flushed red. She jerked back, flustered but speechless. Not a smile, not a word.
Alex finally spoke, calm but firm.
"I bought this hotel for company purposes. Interviewees will be staying here, free of cost. That includes you."
"I don't want your charity," Luna snapped. "I'll pay for myself."
"Fine," he replied smoothly, though his lips curved in the faintest smirk. "But tonight, there's a meeting. Be downstairs. 9 p.m."
"I'll come," she said flatly.
That night, Luna appeared in the lobby. She wore a white top tucked into a denim mini skirt, paired with sneakers, her pendant glimmering softly against her skin. Her hair, freshly washed, fell in gentle waves.
When Alex looked up, his heart faltered. She was stunning—more than stunning. For a brief second, the mighty CEO forgot how to breathe. He blushed, then forced himself to focus.
They sat, discussing policies, contracts, figures. Until his hand brushed hers across the table. Silence followed. Their eyes met. No words, only memories flashing in the space between them.
Alex quickly cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "Now… about the client management policies—"
But the tension snapped again when Luna's phone buzzed. On the screen: "Nick 💖 Home & Heart."
Alex's chest tightened. His jaw clenched. Jealousy flared.
Luna noticed. Smirking slightly, she put the call on speaker.
"Hello, baby. What happened?" she teased, eyes flicking to Alex's darkening expression.
But the voice that answered wasn't Nick's. It was her mother's.
"You didn't tell me you were in a relationship with Nick. Anyway, my surgery was successful. Nick's handling the billing now. I'm fine, don't worry."
Alex's lips curved into a smile. He saw through it now. Luna hadn't moved on. She was just trying to make him jealous.
When the call ended, they went back to business. Later, dinner was served—elegant, quiet, almost romantic.
Until she appeared.
A tall, graceful woman entered, her presence impossible to ignore. She walked straight to Alex, eyes glowing with gratitude.
"Alex! Thank you. Because of you, I own ten companies now. You shared everything with me—your time, your resources. I'll never forget it!"
Before Luna could blink, the woman hugged him warmly.
Luna's blood boiled. She glared, daggers in her eyes. Her hand tightened on her fork like she was about to stab it straight through the table.
When the woman finally left, Alex turned, his expression calm but cutting.
"You judge too quickly, Luna. She was a client. Nothing more."
Luna looked away, cheeks burning with equal parts jealousy and denial.
The night had only just begun, but already, the line between work and emotions was crumbling.