Previously on From Tomboy to Temptation:
Mia worked late into the night, determined to prove herself — only to find herself alone with the one man she could never forget. When the lights went out, Ryker's mask slipped for a heartbeat. His warning — "Be careful how hard you work. Some things are worth the wait." — lingered in her chest long after he walked away.
---
The next morning, the office buzzed with post-presentation nerves. Hale Enterprises' creative team had survived another deadline, but the atmosphere was still tight — everyone waiting to see how the boss would react.
Mia arrived early again, but this time she didn't just feel nervous. She felt… watched.
Every time she glanced toward the corner office, her pulse betrayed her. Ryker Hale stood behind the glass, scanning reports, calm and unreadable. But she couldn't shake the feeling that every time she looked away, his eyes were already on her.
She forced herself to focus on her screen.
You're here to work, not to remember.
---
By mid-morning, the announcement came — the Horizon Cosmetics proposal had been approved for the next stage. Applause broke out across the department.
Lila clapped her hands together. "Good job, everyone! Especially you, Mia. That tagline sealed the deal."
Mia flushed slightly under the praise. "Thank you."
From his office, Ryker's gaze flicked toward her — a quiet acknowledgment. Subtle, but enough to send a spark racing down her spine.
Jordan leaned close with a teasing grin. "You've officially impressed the boss. Careful, Thompson. Next thing we know, he'll have you in private meetings."
"Shut up," she muttered, hiding her smile.
But his words lingered. Because part of her knew — the thought wasn't entirely impossible.
---
That afternoon, Hale called for a department review. The entire marketing floor gathered in the glass-walled conference room. As always, Ryker dominated the space with quiet confidence — every movement measured, every glance controlled.
"Success is never by accident," he said, voice low and firm. "It comes from discipline and attention to detail. And while this team delivered — I expect consistency, not luck."
Mia sat two seats from the end, notebook in hand, trying not to stare. But when his gaze swept across the table and found hers, it lingered for a fraction too long.
That was when Jordan noticed.
He raised a brow, smirking subtly as if to say, What was that?
Mia quickly looked down, cheeks heating.
When the meeting ended, Jordan caught up to her near the break room.
"So," he said, tone light but eyes sharp. "Is there something I should know?"
"About what?"
"About why the CEO looks like he's about to set the room on fire every time you breathe."
She rolled her eyes. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" His grin widened. "I've worked here two years. I've never seen Ryker Hale look at anyone like that."
"Jordan—"
"Relax," he said, raising his hands. "Your secret's safe. Just… be careful. The last person who got on his radar didn't last long."
Mia's stomach tightened.
She didn't want to be on his radar.
But she already was.
---
Hours later, the office thinned out again. Rain streaked the windows, turning the skyline into a blur of silver and shadow. Mia stayed late, fine-tuning the client mockups. The quiet was soothing — until the door to Ryker's office opened.
He stood there, jacket off, sleeves rolled, the faintest hint of exhaustion around his eyes. But when he looked at her, something softer flickered through the steel.
"You're still here again," he said, voice lower than usual.
She smiled faintly. "You're one to talk."
He almost — almost — smiled back. "Touché."
Silence stretched between them. Not awkward, but weighted. She could hear the rain, the hum of computers, the low rhythm of her heartbeat.
Then Ryker spoke, tone quieter. "You did well today."
"Thank you," she said. "That means a lot."
His gaze held hers, unguarded for a moment. "You have potential, Mia. Real potential. Don't let anyone — including me — intimidate that out of you."
Her chest tightened. "You don't intimidate me."
That earned her a small, rare curve of his lips. "Liar."
The word slipped through the air like a secret. For a moment, she forgot where they were — forgot that glass walls surrounded them, that someone could walk in any second. She only saw him — the man beneath the title, his guard cracking piece by piece.
"You weren't always like this, were you?" she asked before she could stop herself. "Cold. Distant."
He hesitated. His jaw tightened slightly. "No."
"What changed?"
His eyes flicked to the window, to the storm outside. "People," he said after a pause. "Trust."
Mia's heart ached at the simplicity of his answer. He wasn't unfeeling — he was protecting something. Or someone. Maybe himself.
Before she could respond, the lights flickered again — the same as last night. The automatic timer.
He looked back at her, his expression unreadable. "We should go."
She stood, gathering her things, but the air between them refused to settle. She stepped past him toward the elevator — and brushed his arm accidentally.
It was just a touch. Barely there.
But he froze.
For a heartbeat, their eyes locked — hers wide, his dark and conflicted. His control trembled at the edges, a war between instinct and restraint flickering across his face.
Then the elevator bell dinged, breaking the spell. He stepped back, voice calm again.
"Goodnight, Ms. Thompson."
She nodded. "Goodnight, Mr. Hale."
---
But as the elevator doors closed, she caught his reflection in the mirrored surface — still watching her go, his mask slipping just long enough for her to see what he didn't want anyone else to see.
Regret.
Longing.
And something dangerously close to desire.
---
That night, Ryker stood alone in his penthouse, city lights bleeding through the glass. He poured a drink but didn't touch it. Her face kept replaying in his mind — her eyes, her voice, the way she looked at him like he was still human.
He hated it.
He craved it.
With a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair. "What are you doing to me, Mia Thompson?"
The words disappeared into the silence.
But miles away, Mia sat by her window, staring at the same skyline — wondering why she couldn't stop thinking about a man she should've stayed far, far away from.