Elena Blake wasn't used to losing her cool.
She had walked red carpets with clients drowning in scandals, shut down reporters mid-question with a single look, and rebuilt reputations from ashes. In her world, poise wasn't optional—it was armor. And yet, here she was, palms slightly damp, heart ticking a little too fast, because of one man.
Ryan Carter.
The name alone felt like a splinter under her skin.
Elena?" Camille's voice came through the speaker. "Your ten a.m. just arrived. Want me to stall him? He's early.
Elena glanced at the clock. 9:52 a.m.
Of course he was early. Ryan had never been one to follow rules when he could rewrite them.
She pressed the button. "No, it's fine. Send him in.
She took a second to adjust her silk blouse and swipe a hand over her sleek ponytail. No sign of nerves. No cracks in the surface. When the door opened, her expression was unreadable.
But her body reacted before her brain did.
Ryan stepped into her office like he owned the air. Broad-shouldered, tall, wearing a charcoal-gray suit tailored to perfection and an expression that was too confident to be anything but dangerous. His dark hair was just slightly tousled, and the stubble on his jaw was the kind that didn't come from forgetting to shave—but from knowing it made women look twice.
Elena, he said, slow and deliberate, like tasting her name on his tongue.
She forced herself not to flinch. Ryan.
He hadn't changed. Not really. The same arrogant presence, the same intense eyes that always felt like they were seeing too much. But it wasn't just his looks that unsettled her—it was the history between them. The moments that still lingered like smoke after a fire.
She gestured to the chair across from her desk. Have a seat.
He didn't sit right away. Instead, he looked around the room, taking in the minimalist decor, the floor-to-ceiling windows, the carefully arranged awards on the shelf.
Nice office. You've upgraded.
She folded her hands in front of her. Success tends to have that effect.
He smirked. I'm familiar.
Finally, he sat—too relaxed, too casual, like he wasn't in the office of the woman who told him to stay out of her life.
You said you had a business proposal, she said, getting straight to the point.
"I do." He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping just enough to make her heartbeat stutter. But let's not pretend we're just business, Elena.
She narrowed her eyes. That's exactly what we are now. Whatever happened before was a mistake.
Ryan didn't flinch.
Funny. I remember it as the best mistake I've ever made."
She hated that her throat went dry.
Two months ago, she had walked away. Not because she wanted to—but because it was the only way to protect the life she'd built. Ryan came with chaos. With headlines and rumors and the kind of attention she worked to shield her clients from, not attract for herself.
But now, here he was. Sitting in her office like he belonged.
She stood, walking to the window to put distance between them.
What do you want, Ryan? she asked, her voice calmer than she felt.
A fixer, he said. Your firm. There's a leak at Carter Tech. Something big is coming, and I need the best to clean it up.
And you think I'll just take you on as a client? she asked, turning back to him.
I think you will if you care about the truth. And you always did, Elena. You just hated that I made you feel things you couldn't control.
Silence stretched between them.
He had always known how to twist words into weapons.
She sighed, the kind that carried more than just exhaustion. Email me the details. I'll review it.
Ryan stood slowly, smoothing his jacket. Sure. But just so we're clear—I didn't come here just for the business. I came for you."
She held his gaze, jaw tight.
Then you wasted your time.
And yet, when the door closed behind him, she stayed frozen.
Because deep down, a part of her already knew.
He was back, and keeping her distance was going to be harder than ever.