Elena's morning began with chaos.
Her alarm had betrayed her, buzzing too late. Her shower was rushed, her hair pinned back with trembling fingers, her makeup minimal. By the time she left her apartment, coffee in hand, her pulse was racing from both exhaustion and nerves.
It wasn't just the morning rush. It was him.
She couldn't get Damien out of her head. His voice, the way his mouth had stolen her breath, the way his body pressed into hers. She had fled his office days ago and then fled again after their heated desk encounter, but fleeing didn't erase anything. If anything, it made his presence stronger, branded into her skin.
Her dream last night hadn't helped. She'd woken flushed and damp, ashamed at how real it had felt. Ashamed at the way she'd whispered his name, even in sleep.
Now, as she strode into the glittering lobby of Steel & Cross, all she wanted was to survive the day unnoticed.
She pressed the elevator button, sipping her coffee, whispering under her breath: "Please, just let me get to my desk without..."
The doors slid open. She stepped inside, grateful for the moment of silence as the doors closed.
Then, with a soft ding, the elevator stopped.
And he walked in.
Damien Cross.
The air left her lungs in one sharp exhale. He was devastating, his suit cut to perfection, his tie dark, his storm-gray eyes sharper than steel. His presence was magnetic, filling every corner of the elevator as though the space existed only for him.
"Good morning, Miss Hart." His voice was a low caress, smooth and commanding.
Her grip on her coffee faltered. "Good… good morning, Mr. Cross."
He didn't move to the opposite side. Instead, he closed the distance, one step at a time, until her back pressed against the mirrored wall.
"You're pale," he murmured, studying her face. His hand slid down, fingertips grazing her arm, before settling firmly at her waist. "Did you sleep at all?"
She stiffened under his touch. "I...I did."
"Liar," he whispered, his mouth brushing the shell of her ear. "You were thinking of me. Weren't you?"
Her breath hitched. "That's ridiculous."
His thumb stroked slow, firm circles into her waist, burning through the thin fabric of her blouse. "Your body disagrees."
She pressed her palm against his chest, weak resistance. "Stop. Someone..."
"No one's here," he cut in smoothly. His lips brushed her jaw, tracing down until they hovered at her neck. "And even if they were, what would it change? You're mine, Elena."
Her knees buckled. "I'm not yours," she whispered, voice breaking.
He chuckled, dark and intimate, lips grazing her skin. "Say that again. Look at me when you do."
She forced herself to meet his gaze. Stormy gray locked on her, burning, relentless. "I'm not yours," she repeated, though her voice trembled.
His smirk deepened. He leaned in and stole a fleeting kiss, soft, almost teasing, his lips grazing hers before pulling away just enough to make her ache. Then his hand slid lower, gripping her hip, before delivering a sharp, unexpected spank against the curve of her ass.
Elena gasped, her coffee nearly spilling, her face flaming red.
"Yesterday," he murmured, his thumb still stroking her waist, "was only the beginning."
The elevator dinged. The doors opened.
Elena bolted, stumbling into the hallway, her pulse hammering wildly. She didn't dare look back. Her face was pale, her breath ragged, her skin burning with humiliation and something far more dangerous.
She barely made it to her desk before Marcy's voice cut through.
"Whoa, Elena. You look like you've seen a ghost."
Elena dropped into her chair, fumbling with her bag. "I...I'm fine. Just tired."
Lily leaned over the divider, grinning. "Not tired. Flustered. Big difference."
Aria arched a brow, her tone cool. "The CEO rode with you, didn't he?"
Elena's cheeks burned. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh," Lily smirked. "Your face says otherwise."
Marcy nudged her shoulder gently. "Don't let them tease too much. You're fine."
But Elena's reprieve didn't last. The sharp click of heels cut across the floor, silencing the chatter. Sophie.
Sophie's presence was a storm cloud. She stopped right at Elena's desk, folding her arms, eyes sharp with malice.
"Well," Sophie drawled, loud enough for nearby assistants to hear, "aren't you making an impression? The CEO himself, in the elevator, alone with you. Funny how fast you're moving."
Elena stiffened. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, don't play dumb," Sophie said sweetly, her perfume sickly strong. "Everyone's already talking. They say you're getting awfully close to Mr. Cross. Strange, for someone who just got here. But then again…" She let her eyes rake over Elena. "Some women have a way of climbing without ever touching the stairs."
The words hit like a slap.
Whispers stirred. A few assistants exchanged knowing glances. Heat crawled up Elena's neck.
Marcy stood, voice sharp. "That's enough, Sophie."
Sophie ignored her. "Rumor has it you seduced one of the higher-ups just to land this job. That true, Elena? Did you spread your legs for HR before catching the CEO's eye?"
Gasps rippled across the section.
Elena's chest tightened. "That's not true!"
"Then how did you get here?" Sophie pressed, her smile razor-thin. "Thousands apply. And you, of all people, walk right in? Either you're a genius no one's ever heard of, or you're just very, very good on your back."
Marcy slammed a hand on the desk. "Stop it!"
Lily's fists clenched. "You're disgusting, Sophie."
Aria's cold voice cut through. "You're showing your fear. If Elena wasn't a threat, you wouldn't be trying this hard."
Sophie smirked, unfazed. She dropped a thick folder onto Elena's desk with a sharp thud.
"Oh, by the way. Finance flagged inconsistencies in last month's reports. And guess whose signature was on them? Yours."
Elena froze. "That's impossible. I wasn't even here last month."
"Maybe someone forged it. Maybe you're sloppy. Either way, your problem now."
Sophie's smile widened. "Careful, Elena. Damien Cross might play with you for a while. But he'll never keep you. And when he's done, I'll still be here."
She pivoted and walked away, her heels like gunshots across marble.
Elena sat frozen, trembling. Whispers spread like wildfire. Some assistants stared at her with pity. Others with disdain.
Lily muttered, "God, I hate her."
Marcy crouched beside Elena. "Don't listen. Everyone saw how calculated that was."
Aria's gaze was razor-sharp. "She's escalating. You need to be careful."
But Elena felt the truth sinking into her bones: Sophie wasn't finished.
********************************************************
The whispers followed Elena everywhere. In the breakroom, voices dropped when she entered. In the cafeteria, she felt eyes on her as she sat with her tray, Marcy and Lily close on either side, Aria watching from across the table.
By afternoon, the tension snapped.
Mr. Kline from Finance stormed into their section, holding a stack of reports. "Miss Hart. Conference room. Now."
Elena's stomach dropped.
Sophie smirked from across the room.
Marcy squeezed Elena's hand. "You've got this."
The conference room was suffocating. Mr. Kline dropped the folder on the table, flipping to a page with her forged signature. "Explain this."
Elena's throat closed. "I… I didn't sign that. I wasn't employed then."
Mr. Kline's eyes narrowed. "Your name is right here. Fraud is a serious offense, Miss Hart."
Her pulse spiked. "It's forged. Please, check with HR..."
The door opened.
Damien walked in.
Elena's knees nearly buckled. His presence filled the room instantly, commanding silence.
"Problem?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with lethal authority.
Mr. Kline cleared his throat. "Inconsistencies in last month's reports. Miss Hart's name is on them."
Damien's gaze swept the table, landing on Elena. His eyes burned, unreadable, before he turned to Kline. "Miss Hart was not employed at Steel & Cross until this month. Which makes it impossible for her to have signed those documents."
Mr. Kline blinked. "I… wasn't aware of her hire date."
"You should have been," Damien said coldly. "Dragging one of my assistants into baseless accusations is sloppy. Verify facts before wasting my time again."
Mr. Kline flushed. "Of course, Mr. Cross. My apologies."
Damien's gaze lingered on Elena, sharp and unreadable. Beneath the surface of his professional tone, his words vibrated with possession. You are mine to protect.
"Handled?" he asked flatly.
"Yes, Mr. Cross," Kline muttered.
"Good." Damien left the room, his authority echoing in the silence.
Elena stood trembling, relief flooding her veins and heat burning just beneath it.
****************************************************************
Back at her desk, the girls pounced.
"Well?" Lily demanded.
Elena exhaled shakily. "He defended me. Told Mr. Kline I couldn't have signed them."
Marcy smiled fiercely. "See? You were set up. And everyone knows it now."
Aria's gaze cut to Sophie's desk. "And we all know who set her up."
Sophie smirked across the room, unbothered, her eyes gleaming with silent promises.
"She's furious," Lily whispered. "She'll try again."
Elena swallowed, her pulse still racing.
Marcy squeezed her hand. "Don't let her scare you. You're not alone."
For the first time all day, Elena felt the warmth of her allies.
But as the office emptied that evening, Sophie intercepted her at the elevators.
Her smile was venomous, her whisper sharp. "Enjoy your little rescue today. But remember, Elena, he won't always save you. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
She brushed past, leaving Elena frozen, her heart pounding with dread.