The morning sun streamed through the glass walls of M.K. Company, highlighting every polished surface and sharp edge. Emmy sat at her desk, sipping coffee, mentally preparing herself for another day under Aiden's infuriatingly watchful gaze.
Focus, Emmy. Revenge first, swooning later. And maybe breathe… barely.
Her files were neatly stacked, her notes meticulously organized, yet she felt a flicker of nervous anticipation. Something about today felt different.
Aiden's Arrival
As if on cue, Aiden appeared, leaning casually against the edge of her desk with his signature smirk. "Morning, new girl. Ready for a… challenge?"
Emmy arched an eyebrow. "Define 'challenge.' Your last definition included enough paperwork to crush a small city."
He chuckled. "This one's different. Slightly more… dangerous."
Dangerous? That's your polite way of saying torture, isn't it?
"I thrive under pressure," she said smoothly, setting her coffee aside. Lie. Just lie convincingly.
Aiden's smirk deepened, and his eyes flicked to the files on her desk. "Good. You'll need it."
The Mysterious Meeting
He handed her an envelope marked "Confidential – Do Not Open Until Meeting". Emmy's fingers tingled as she traced the edges.
Confidential? This has 'big trouble' written all over it.
"You'll be attending a closed-door session with the executive board," Aiden said casually. "I suggest reading the contents carefully beforehand."
Emmy opened the envelope and scanned the documents. Her eyes widened as she recognized sensitive company secrets, planned mergers, and hidden financial manipulations.
Jackpot. This is bigger than I expected… and more dangerous.
Aiden leaned closer, his voice soft. "Pay attention. One wrong move, and you'll be in over your head."
Over my head? Maybe. But I didn't climb out of the ashes to drown in fear.
Flirting Under Fire
As they walked toward the boardroom, Aiden's arm brushed against hers, a casual contact that sent a subtle thrill through her.
Stop noticing that. Focus. Revenge. Survival. Not… butterflies.
"You seem calm," he whispered, smirking. "Are you sure you're not secretly terrified?"
Emmy shot him a glare. "Terrified? Me? Hardly. Nervous… maybe."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Nervous or not, I'll be watching."
Watching. Always watching. Why do I secretly like that?
Inside the Boardroom
The room was tense, executives seated around a long mahogany table, all eyes on Emmy and Aiden. Mac Keylor's presence was as commanding as ever, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"Emmy," Keylor said smoothly, "we've reviewed your preliminary work. Today, you will assist in compiling a report that could determine the company's next strategic move."
Strategic move… or a trap? Stay calm, stay focused.
Aiden leaned slightly toward her. "I trust you won't mess this up."
Emmy bit back a grin. "I wouldn't dream of it."
Dream… that's funny. You're going to help me destroy him, not the other way around.
A Humorous Mishap
Halfway through the meeting, an assistant sneezed violently, sending a pile of papers tumbling onto the floor. Emmy couldn't help but glance at Aiden, who gave her a small, exaggerated sigh of disapproval.
"You're too easily distracted," he whispered. "Focus, or you'll fail spectacularly."
Emmy rolled her eyes, fighting a laugh. "Spectacularly? I like the sound of that."
Spectacularly… yes, chaos suits me today.
The Dangerous Proposal
Keylor's tone shifted as he presented a confidential project, one that could potentially reveal hidden financial deals and alliances within the company. Emmy's heart raced—this was her chance.
This is it. The leverage I've been waiting for.
"You'll need discretion and precision," Keylor said. "I trust you understand the stakes."
Emmy nodded, pretending calm, while internally she calculated every angle.
Precision… check. Discretion… double check. Revenge… oh, I've got that covered.
Aiden's Unexpected Help
After the meeting, Aiden leaned close, whispering, "Keylor doesn't realize you're not just competent—you're sharp. Dangerous, even. Just don't let him know how dangerous."
Emmy felt a blush rise but kept her voice steady. "Thanks. I'll be careful."
His smirk softened slightly. "Good. Because I like watching you survive."
Survive… or thrive? Hard to tell with him. And why does that smirk feel so… infuriatingly charming?
A Romantic Spark
Later, as they reviewed documents in a quieter corner, their hands brushed over the papers. The small contact sent a jolt through Emmy, and she felt herself becoming uncomfortably aware of his proximity.
Stop it, Emmy. Focus on revenge, not butterflies.
Aiden caught her gaze and smirked knowingly. "Something on your mind?"
She rolled her eyes, trying to hide her reaction. "Just… thinking about the project."
"Uh-huh," he said, clearly unconvinced. "Keep telling yourself that."
Keep telling myself that… right. Just focus on Keylor.
Evening Cliffhanger
By the end of the day, Emmy had pieced together a critical part of Keylor's hidden operations, a discovery that could tip the scales in her favor. She felt a mix of exhilaration and tension—she was closer than ever to her goal, but the danger was real.
Aiden watched her, eyes unreadable. "You did well today," he said softly, a rare hint of sincerity in his tone.
Emmy smiled politely. "Thanks. But don't get used to it."
He chuckled, leaning back with a smirk. "Oh, I plan to notice everything. Makes life… more interesting."
Interesting… sure. Infuriatingly interesting.
As the elevator doors closed, Emmy felt a mixture of triumph, excitement, and something she wasn't ready to name. The game was intensifying, and so was the tension between her and Aiden.
Tomorrow… more secrets, more tests, more teasing… and maybe just a little more danger.