Morning sunlight spilled through the glass walls of Cole Enterprises, bright and unforgiving. For most employees, it marked a new day — but for Maya Hayes, it was a reminder of the night before.
She'd barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ethan's face — the way his voice softened when he said her name, the look in his eyes when the lights flickered and left them in darkness. That same warmth, that same danger.
She told herself to forget it.
It was just one late night. One conversation. Nothing more.
But as she stepped into the office that morning, coffee in hand, the whispers started.
"Did you hear? Mr. Cole stayed late last night."
"With the new assistant."
"I heard they left together."
Maya's stomach tightened. She ignored the glances, the half-smiles, and walked faster toward her desk. Corporate gossip was poisonous — and she'd survived enough scandal once before. She wouldn't let it happen again.
"Ms. Hayes," came a familiar voice from behind.
Ethan.
Of course.
She turned, forcing her expression into something neutral. "Good morning, Mr. Cole."
He studied her carefully. "Can we talk? In my office?"
A few nearby assistants looked up, curiosity gleaming in their eyes. Maya felt her pulse quicken. "Of course," she said, following him through the glass doors, trying to ignore every pair of eyes that followed.
When the door closed behind them, she spoke first. "You might want to reconsider calling me into your office first thing in the morning. The staff already has us married with twins by now."
Ethan's lips curved slightly. "I'll make sure to clarify we're still debating baby names."
Her glare was sharp enough to silence him. "It's not funny, Ethan. People talk."
His smile faded. "You're right. I'll handle it."
"How?" she challenged. "Tell them the truth? That we used to be—"
He cut her off. "That you're my employee. And that's all they need to know."
Her heart stung at that. Employee. It shouldn't have hurt, but it did.
"Understood," she said coldly. "Was there something else you needed?"
"Yes." His tone softened. "About last night. About what I said."
Maya froze.
"I know I shouldn't have brought up the past," Ethan continued, "but there's something you don't know. Something I should've told you years ago."
She crossed her arms, skeptical. "Now you want to talk?"
"I didn't before because it wasn't safe to."
"Safe?" she repeated, frowning. "What are you talking about?"
He sighed, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck — a gesture she remembered well. "Five years ago, when I left, it wasn't just my father's illness. The company was in debt. A partner — Lionel Carter — was leaking trade information to competitors. When I confronted him, he threatened to expose personal details about my life if I didn't step down quietly."
Maya's brow furrowed. "Personal details?"
Ethan met her eyes. "Us."
The room went still.
"He found out about our relationship," Ethan said, voice low. "He knew you were still in grad school, that you were applying for international internships. He said if I didn't walk away, he'd make sure your name was tied to insider trading allegations. You would've lost your future before it even started."
Maya's heart thudded in her chest. "You're saying you left to protect me?"
"I'm saying I didn't have a choice," Ethan said quietly. "I took the fall, bought out his shares, and shut it down. But by the time it was over… you'd already moved on."
Her throat tightened. She remembered those weeks — the unanswered messages, the heartbreak, the resentment. And she'd hated him for all of it.
"You could've told me," she said finally. "You could've trusted me."
"I wanted to," he said, stepping closer. "But the more I thought about it, the more I realized… I didn't want you dragged through the mud because of me. You had dreams bigger than my chaos."
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides. "You don't get to decide what I can handle, Ethan."
His voice softened. "I know. I learned that the hard way."
The silence that followed was heavy — filled with regret and the faint hum of the city beyond the glass.
Then Maya turned away, blinking hard. "This changes nothing," she said. "The past is over. We can't rewrite it."
He smiled sadly. "Maybe not. But that doesn't mean I've stopped thinking about it."
She froze. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't look at me like that," she whispered. "Like you still—"
"Still what?" he asked gently.
Her voice faltered. "Like you still care."
He didn't answer — but he didn't have to. The emotion in his eyes said it all.
---
That afternoon, Maya buried herself in work. Anything to avoid thinking about Ethan. But fate, as usual, wasn't done with her.
At lunch, her friend and HR manager, Clara, slid into the chair beside her in the break room. "You and Mr. Cole were in his office for a while this morning," Clara said casually.
Maya's spoon froze midair. "Work matters."
"Uh-huh," Clara said, smirking. "Well, just so you know, the rumor mill's spinning. People think there's history between you two."
Maya stiffened. "They're wrong."
Clara raised an eyebrow. "Are they?"
Maya hesitated, then sighed. "It doesn't matter. Whatever we had—it ended a long time ago."
Clara studied her friend quietly. "You don't sound so sure."
Before Maya could answer, a message buzzed on her phone. It was from Ethan.
> Ethan: We need to talk. My office, 6 p.m.
Maya closed her eyes briefly. "Of course," she muttered.
---
By evening, most employees had gone home again. Maya stood outside Ethan's office, hesitating before she finally knocked.
"Come in," he called.
He was by the window, city lights reflecting against his crisp white shirt. When he turned to her, the look in his eyes was softer than she'd ever seen it.
"I wasn't sure you'd come," he said quietly.
"I wasn't sure I should."
He gestured toward the seat across from his desk. "Then I'll make it worth your while."
Maya sat slowly, crossing her legs to hide her nerves. "What's this about?"
Ethan hesitated. Then he reached into a drawer and pulled out a folder — one stamped with the Carter Holdings logo.
"Last night after you left," he said, "I got an email from Lionel Carter. He's back. He wants a seat on the board again. And he's threatening to leak the same files unless I agree."
Maya's stomach dropped. "He can't—"
"He can," Ethan interrupted, his tone grim. "And if he does, your name might resurface. The old records mention you in connection with me."
Her pulse raced. "So what do we do?"
"I'll handle it," Ethan said firmly. "You've done enough. I won't let him hurt you again."
"You can't keep protecting me," Maya said, her voice trembling. "You already lost everything once because of me."
He looked at her, eyes fierce but tender. "I didn't lose everything. I lost you. And that was the only thing that ever mattered."
Her breath caught.
"Ethan…"
He stepped closer, slowly, deliberately. "I know it's too late to ask for forgiveness. I know I broke something between us I can't fix. But if there's even a chance to make this right — I'll take it."
Maya stood too, her voice barely a whisper. "You're risking everything again."
He smiled faintly. "Maybe it's time I stop running from what I want."
The air between them burned — soft, fragile, and heavy with everything unsaid.
Maya could feel her heart betray her, thudding faster. "This is wrong," she murmured, stepping back — but her voice shook.
"Maybe," he said. "But it feels like the first right thing in years."
For a heartbeat, neither moved. Then Ethan took a slow step closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him.
But instead of touching her, he whispered, "Go home, Maya. Before I do something we'll both regret."
She hesitated — then turned toward the door, every nerve in her body screaming at her to stay.
At the doorway, she stopped and looked back. "You already did," she said softly, her eyes glimmering with both pain and longing. "And so did I."
Then she left.
Ethan stood there, watching the door close, the sound echoing like the memory of all the years they'd lost.
And for the first time since she came back, he realized — he might not get another second chance.