Cecilia's POV
If someone had told me two months ago that I'd be fake-dating my baby's father—the same man who once tossed me out like a bad credit card—I'd have laughed until my ribs cracked.
Yet here I was, standing in front of a full-length mirror in Samuel's penthouse guest room, adjusting the neckline of my navy-blue cocktail dress. The silk fabric hugged my curves like it had been sewn by angels and whispered, "Make him suffer."
Tonight, Samuel was hosting a private celebration for closing a multi-million-dollar merger. A small affair, he'd said—just a few close partners, the board, and, oh, his very persistent, newly-returned ex-fiancée: Madison.
Ugh. Even her name sounded like expensive perfume and bad decisions.
I applied one final coat of lip gloss and gave myself a confident nod. "You are Cecilia Grant. You have a child, a job, and a man who's trying to win you back. You got this."
Samuel's POV
The second I saw her walk into the room, time hiccuped.
Cecilia's dress swayed with every step like it had its own agenda—an agenda to ruin me. My board members were talking. Probably congratulating me. I couldn't hear a word. She looked like trouble, poetry, and salvation all in one.
Madison, who had attached herself to my side like a designer handbag, went stiff the moment Cecilia's heels clicked against the marble floor.
"She's... here," Madison said, her tone dripping with disdain.
"She works here," I said smoothly. "Of course she's here."
"She's wearing that to a business celebration?"
"She's wearing it like a goddess," I replied before I could stop myself.
Madison's eyes narrowed, and I instantly regretted speaking out loud.
Cecilia's POV
I wasn't sure what was worse—Vanessa's glare or the way Samuel kept stealing glances at me as if I were a walking confession to a secret he couldn't bury anymore.
I found my seat beside Julia, the head of HR, who looked up from her wine and gave me a knowing smirk.
"So... you and the boss, huh?"
I blinked. "What about us?"
Julia leaned in, whispering, "Don't act innocent. Everyone's talking. He's never smiled this much before. Or bought lunch for the entire staff three times in one week."
I let out a nervous laugh. "We're not— It's complicated."
"Complicated is just the foreplay of office romance, sweetheart," she winked.
Great. The gossip was now wearing heels and drinking Chardonnay.
Samuel's POV
I gave my speech without choking, which I considered a major win. But the whole time, my eyes kept straying back to Cecilia. She laughed with people, she mingled, and when she thought no one was watching, she stole a shrimp from the hors d'oeuvre tray and looked adorably guilty about it.
After the final applause, I moved through the crowd, avoiding Madison like the flu, and approached Cecilia near the bar.
"You look…" I hesitated, searching for the right word. "Dangerous."
She raised a brow. "Dangerous?"
"In a good way," I corrected, lifting my glass. "Like a woman who could destroy a man's ego with a smirk."
"Oh, I've already done that," she said sweetly, sipping her drink.
We both laughed. The tension between us was a tangible thing—electric, crackling, begging to be explored.
Then Vanessa appeared, like a glitch in the matrix, clutching a champagne flute and batting her lashes like a malfunctioning doll.
"Samuel, darling," she purred. "They're asking for more photos with you and the board."
"I'll be there soon," I said, eyes still on Cecilia.
Madison's gaze darted between us. "Don't take too long."
After she sashayed away, Cecilia turned to me with a raised brow.
"You're not going to tell her, are you?" she asked quietly.
"I will. Eventually."
"You said that last week."
"I mean it this time. Just... give me a little more time."
She sighed. "You always want more time. Time to fix things, time to figure things out. But Samuel, Leo isn't just a child you found. He's our child. You can't keep pretending life can stay in limbo."
Cecilia's POV
I hated how right I sounded. I hated even more that I still wanted him—his smile, his awkward jokes, his infuriatingly perfect dimples.
Later that night, as the party faded and guests left, I waited for my ride downstairs when Samuel appeared with his jacket in hand.
"Let me drive you."
I hesitated. "I can call a cab."
"It's past midnight, and we're in Midtown. Cabs are basically unicorns after 10 p.m."
I relented. "Fine."
The drive was quiet at first. Too quiet.
"You were amazing tonight," he said.
"You looked like you wanted to run," I replied.
"I wanted to run to you."
I blinked. "Samuel—"
"Look, I know I messed up. I know I don't deserve a second chance, but damn it, Cecilia, I love you. I've never stopped loving you."
My heart slammed against my chest like it wanted to believe him. But my brain reminded me I still needed to be smart.
"I don't want to be your rebound from Madison. Or your guilt project."
"You're neither. You're everything."
We pulled up to my apartment. I reached for the door handle, but he touched my hand gently.
"Cecilia, I'm not asking you to trust me tonight. I'm just asking you to consider what it would mean if you did."
I got out slowly, my pulse louder than city traffic.
"I'll think about it," I whispered.
He watched me go, headlights illuminating my silhouette as I walked up the stairs.
Samuel's POV
I didn't sleep that night. Not really. I stared at the ceiling thinking about Cecilia. About Leo. About the future I wanted and the one I almost lost.
I had one more chance.
And I wasn't going to blow it.