By midweek, Ethan found himself watching Lena more than was strictly professional. She had infiltrated his company—not literally, but figuratively, by sheer force of personality. She challenged his assistants, questioned his directives, and smiled in meetings like she owned the room.
And it irritated him more than he wanted to admit.
Until the day she walked into his office unannounced.
"I have questions," she said, voice firm. "And I don't appreciate being sidelined."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, studying her. She was beautiful—intense, dangerous, magnetic—but more than that, she had fire. And fire was something he usually extinguished.
"Questions about my company, or about me?" he asked, lips curling.
"Both," she replied, unflinching.
Ethan realized, with a thrill that scared him, that this woman was the first in years to look at him—not at his wealth, not at his status—but at the man he actually was.
And maybe, just maybe… he didn't want to put out her fire.