"Oh, my God!" Jenny whistled as she waltzed into the office, both hands fisted against her cheeks. "He's so hot."
Maria chuckled, setting her coffee mug on the glass table. "I knew he'd catch your eyes."
Jenny sank into her chair—short bouncy hair framing her face, makeup just right, red dress flattering her ivory skin.
"He'll be addressing us soon," she continued, then turned to Maria. "How do I look?"
"You look great, Jenny." Maria rolled her eyes and refocused on her laptop, tinkering with the project she hoped would finally help her recognition.
**
Miles offered a warm smile as he scanned the boardroom—more women than men, all in crisp office attire.
Daniel had done well; the company's growth and its staff spoke for themselves.
Then his gaze landed on Maria in a maroon dress this time, trying not to linger on him for obvious reasons.
Miles knew Daniel didn't care much for her; he favored slimmer women, yet for some reason, he kept Maria close, despite those delicious curves and pretty face.
"Hello everyone," Miles began.
"Hello Mr Miles," they chorused with office-bright excitement.
"Congratulations, you all earned this visit.
The wonderful brainstorming ideas from this branch have been consistent, marketable, and incredibly helpful over the past ten months. Great work."
Applause ripples through the room—Maria included.
Miles' eyes strayed briefly to her cleavage. The neckline dipped further than the previous dress he had seen her in at the airport.
"It'll be a perfect time to ask those questions you're curious about too," Daniel said, snapping Miles back.
"Yes," Miles chuckled. "Also I want to commend whoever came up with the Time Travel Treats idea. It drew in a lot of adult customers to our fast food chains."
"That would be Maria," the lady in a red dress seated next to Maria blurted.
Maria shifted nervously in her seat, as if being acknowledged were inappropriate.
Daniel shot the lady a lethal glare; she pretended not to notice.
Miles smiled at Maria, this time she held his gaze—cautious but hopeful of what he had to say.
"Brilliant work," he said. "That's headquarters-standard thinking. A promotion isn't impossible for minds like yours."
Applause returned, hesitantly this time, all except Daniel partaking as Maria flushed with shy pride.
"Th-Thanks everyone."
"That'll be all for now," Miles said forcibly pulling his gaze from her bashful smile. "I look forward to a great experience of working with all of you during my time here."
"We look forward to it too!" came the final echo.
As the room emptied, Miles noticed Daniel lean in to murmur something to Maria as she straightened in her seat. Whatever it was, it wiped her smile clean.
She swallowed as she walked toward Miles. The maroon dress was modest yet sinfully elegant, hugging the lush sway of her softly rounded hips.
Even the curve of her calves was flawless, teasing his imagination upward with every step.
As Maria passed, a soft powdery vanilla scent drifted to him, making him nearly close his eyes to savor it.
He was shameless.
She was his little brother's woman for Christ's sake.
"Big bro," Daniel called, snapping him back. "Let me give you a full tour of production. You'll be wowed at how much has changed."
Miles smiled. "I don't doubt that at all."
**
After the meeting, Maria sat in her office scanning customer suggestions files on her computer, a small smile tugging at her lips as she replayed the applause of her co-workers.
Miles's praise lingered in her mind, tempting her thoughts to wander to the first undone button of his shirt, the strong lines of his neck…sharp, confident, impossible to ignore.
Her smile faded.
Why was it so difficult for Daniel to acknowledge her work?
He had cornered her and dismissed Miles' praise, saying it didn't mean anything.
It felt like he was suppressing her opportunities, simply because he could.
Her cheeks warmed as she recalled the moment she caught Miles's eyes undressing her.
She shouldn't have noticed. She shouldn't have enjoyed it.
But the image lingered, the memory of his bold, airy cologne made naughty thoughts stir in her imagination.
Maria bit the end of her pen.
Thinking about him like that was wrong.
Even so, the intensity of Miles' gaze was hard to dismiss as ordinary.
She slapped her face lightly and whispered, "Snap out of it. Snap out of it."
Then she sighed and returned to her work, still fighting the pull of her forbidden attraction to the company's C.E.O.
**
Miles groaned inwardly as he settled into the head chair at his end of the long dining table in the family's estate.
His mother had arranged a small dinner party, something he could gladly escape if he could.
It was a cool evening, the windows were left open for natural air instead of the air conditioner.
White mesh curtains billowed gently, brushing against the polished frames.
The table gleamed—expensive porcelain plates stacked over wider ones, golden cutlery aligned with precision, lace-thin cloths laid beneath glass jugs and cups.
Ten carved wooden seats surrounded the display.
The chefs in their crisp uniforms moved quietly in the background, setting appetizers as his father entered in a casual shirt and house trousers.
His mom followed close behind, already sophisticated and ready, eyeing him critically.
"Gerald, you have to change that look. This is a dinner party. The Hays are coming over too, remember."
His dad rolled his eyes, unimpressed by the urgency of the occasion.
"The Hays?" Miles asked, drawing his mother's attention.
"Oh, darling, didn't realize you were already here." Her gaze flicked down his outfit, assessing it. At least yours is manageable."
Miles sighed, "You set the time for seven, Mom. It's almost seven thirty."
"Maybe we could move the party," his father muttered. "Since it's already past time."
His mother glared, shutting down the thought as Daniel's voice carried into the dining hall.
"Good evening everyone,"
Daniel looked sharp—overly formal for a small family dinner, exactly the kind of effort their mother adored.
Then Maria appeared behind him, hesitant in her steps but impossible to overlook. The white dress she wore wasn't loud, yet it commanded attention at the same time.
Minimal makeup and bold red lipstick that made her already tempting lips irresistible.
Her hair was swept into a styled, messy bun, with soft curls framing her round face.
The dress flared just above her knees. The upper part of it sat an inch below her chest, the sleeves beginning beneath her supple shoulders, offering a tiny peak of the twin swell of her breasts.
On someone else, the dress would read innocent. On her, it read as involuntary temptation.
She clutched a small silver purse that matched the glitter on her heels catching the light as she approached.
Mrs Genova rolled her eyes as Maria offered a soft greeting.
"Good evening, Everyone."
"I hope the chairs will be enough for our guests," his mom remarked, her tone thin and condescending.
"Stop it, Mom," Daniel said, taking the seat to Miles' right. "I invited her."
Mrs Genova turned her attention back to Mr Genova. "Gerald?"
His father resigned with a sigh, exiting the dining room to change into something more appropriate.
Maria's intoxicating scent passed behind Miles, settling beside him—one chair away. Close enough for him to steal quick private glances at the curve of her temptation.
"Good Evening, Maria," he said.
She met his eyes for a breath, then looked away as she replied, cautious and polite. "Hello, Mr Miles."
Mrs Genova clapped her hands together, as if brushing off the faint tension in the air.
She turned toward the windows with feigned delight. "Ooh, the Hays are here."