The meeting felt like it lasted hours, though it couldn't have been more than thirty minutes.
Adrian went through restructuring plans, new client acquisition strategies, performance metrics all while I tried to remember how to breathe.
Every time his eyes swept the room, they lingered on me for a fraction too long. Not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough to make my skin burn.
"That's all for now," Adrian concluded. "Department heads, please stay. Everyone else, back to work. And Miss…" He paused, consulting a tablet. "Miss Carter. My office in ten minutes."
The room went silent. Every head turned toward me.
Riley's hand found my arm under the table, squeezing hard.
"Yes, sir," I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.
The crowd filed out, whispers already starting. Being singled out by the new CEO on day one was either very good or very, very bad.
I knew which one this was.
I spent nine of those ten minutes in the bathroom, staring at my reflection and giving myself a pep talk.
"Professional. You're a professional. He's your boss. Friday night never happened. You can do this."
My reflection didn't look convinced.
At exactly ten minutes, I knocked on the double doors of the executive office formerly Gerald's, now Adrian's.
"Come in."
The office had been transformed. Gerald's golf trophies and family photos were gone, replaced by sleek modern art and a massive desk that looked like it cost more than my car. Adrian stood by the window, hands in his pockets, looking every inch the billionaire CEO.
He didn't turn around.
"Close the door, Emma."
I did, my heart hammering. "Mr. Hartley"
"Adrian." Now he turned, and the intensity in his gaze nearly knocked me back a step. "You called me Adrian on Friday night. Multiple times, as I recall."
Heat flooded my cheeks. "That was before I knew who you were."
"And does knowing who I am change what happened between us?"
"It changes everything!" I crossed my arms, trying to create some barrier between us. "You're my boss. You own this company. This is this is a nightmare."
He moved toward me, slow and predatory. "A nightmare? That's not what you said when"
"Don't." I held up a hand, stepping back. "Please don't finish that sentence."
He stopped, jaw tightening. For a moment, something almost like hurt flashed across his face before the mask returned.
"Sit down, Miss Carter."
The formality stung more than it should have. I sat in one of the leather chairs facing his desk, feeling like I was about to be fired.
Adrian settled into his chair, all business now. He pulled up something on his computer, then looked at me with those devastating blue eyes.
"Your file is impressive. Top performer in your department for two years running. Led the Riverside campaign that brought in three million in new business. Consistently positive client feedback." He paused. "So why weren't you promoted to Senior Marketing Director last month?"
I blinked. That was not the question I'd expected.
"I… Gerald said they wanted to wait until the new CEO was in place. To see what direction the company was heading."
"Bullshit." Adrian's bluntness shocked me. "Gerald gave the position to his nephew, Marcus Fleming. A man with half your experience and a quarter of your results. I've spent the weekend reviewing every personnel file in this company, Emma. That promotion should have been yours."
My throat tightened. Hearing someone validate what I'd felt what I'd known made the anger and hurt rush back.
"So what happens now?" I asked quietly.
"Now?" Adrian leaned back, studying me. "Now I fix Gerald's mistake. As of today, you're promoted to Senior Marketing Director. Fifteen percent salary increase, corner office on the sixth floor, and a team of five reporting directly to you."
I stared at him. "What?"
"You earned it. This isn't charity, and it's not about Friday night. Though" his voice dropped, becoming intimate, "I won't pretend Friday night didn't affect my decision to review your file first."
"I can't accept this." I stood abruptly. "Everyone will think I slept my way into the promotion. They'll say"
"They'll say you finally got what you deserved." Adrian stood too, rounding the desk. "Marcus Fleming is being reassigned to a position that actually matches his skill level.
Your promotion is based purely on merit."
"But it's not!" I threw my hands up. "You just admitted Friday night influenced your decision!"
"Friday night made me curious about you. Your work earned you the promotion." He was close now, too close. "Unless you're suggesting your performance reviews are fabricated? That your campaigns didn't bring in millions? That your clients don't specifically request you?"
"No, but"
"Then accept the promotion, Emma. Take what's yours."
God, the way he said my name. Like he was still undressing me with his voice.
"What about us?" The question escaped before I could stop it. "What happened Friday…"
"What do you want to happen?" His hand came up, not touching me but close enough that I could feel the heat of his palm. "I could pretend I don't want you. We could keep things strictly professional. Or"
"Or what?"
His thumb brushed my cheek, feather-light. "Or we could acknowledge that Friday night was the best night I've had in years. That I haven't stopped thinking about you. That seeing you in that conference room took every ounce of my control not to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of there."
My breath hitched. "Adrian"
"But you're right. The power dynamic is complicated now. So here's what I'm offering." He stepped back, giving me space to think. "Accept the promotion. It's yours regardless. As for anything else between us…" His eyes burned into mine. "That's entirely your decision. No pressure. No consequences if you say no."
"And if I say yes?"
A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. "Then I'd suggest we keep things very, very discreet. At least until you're established in your new role. I won't have anyone question whether you earned your position."
My head was spinning. Promotion. Adrian. The memory of his hands, his mouth, the way he'd made me feel alive.
"I need time to think."
"Take all the time you need." He returned to his desk, back to being the CEO. "HR will have your new contract ready by end of day. Your office will be prepared by Wednesday. And Emma?"
I paused at the door.
"Welcome to the executive team. I look forward to working with you."
The dismissal was clear, but the heat in his eyes said something entirely different.
Riley ambushed me the moment I reached my desk.
"What happened? Are you fired? Did he recognize you from somewhere? Why did he single you out?"
"I got promoted," I said numbly.
"WHAT?"
Half the department turned to stare.