A Dangerous Secret

Chapter 7

Lana – POV

The meeting continues.

Or at least… everyone else seems to think it does.

Slides appear on the large screen.

Financial projections.

Department restructuring plans.

Executive discussions.

But my mind is only half present.

Because every few seconds, I feel it.

Ethan’s gaze.

Watching me.

Not openly enough for anyone else to notice.

But enough that I feel it like a quiet pressure against my skin.

I force myself to focus on the presentation.

“Based on my initial assessment,” I say calmly, clicking to the next slide, “Hale Industries has incredible growth potential. However, several divisions are operating inefficiently due to overlapping management structures.”

Professional.

Clear.

Exactly the way an executive consultant should sound.

Across the table, Daniel Hale nods with interest.

“I completely agree,” he says. “That’s exactly why we brought you here.”

He smiles easily.

Friendly.

Approachable.

Very different from his brother.

Daniel leans forward slightly.

“I’ll be working closely with you during this project, Ms. Vale.”

My stomach tightens slightly.

Of course he will.

That was in the contract.

I just didn’t realize his older brother would be Ethan.

“Of course,” I reply.

Across the table, Ethan shifts slightly in his chair.

Just a small movement.

But I notice it.

Something about his expression changes.

His jaw tightens slightly.

Selene, seated beside him, seems oblivious to the tension.

She’s reviewing the documents calmly.

Daniel continues speaking.

“We’ll arrange a private office for you on this floor so we can coordinate easily.”

“That would be helpful,” I say.

Then Ethan finally speaks.

His voice is calm.

Controlled.

But the moment he does, the entire room seems to pay attention.

“Ms. Vale.”

My spine straightens automatically.

“Yes, Mr. Hale?”

For a brief moment, his eyes lock onto mine.

The intensity in them sends a ripple of heat through my chest.

“You mentioned restructuring upper management in the operations division,” he says.

“Yes.”

“How aggressive do you intend to be?”

The question sounds professional.

But something about the way he’s looking at me feels… personal.

“Efficient companies require decisive leadership,” I answer calmly.

His gaze sharpens slightly.

“And if that leadership resists?”

My voice stays steady.

“Then change becomes necessary.”

Silence settles briefly around the table.

Then Ethan leans back slightly in his chair.

“Good.”

Just one word.

But something about it feels like approval.

Or maybe a challenge.

The rest of the meeting continues without incident.

But the tension between us never disappears.

Finally, Daniel closes the meeting.

“Excellent presentation, Ms. Vale.”

He stands and gestures toward the hallway.

“Let me show you your office.”

The other executives begin gathering their documents.

Selene rises as well.

“Ethan, we still have lunch with my parents this afternoon,” she reminds him gently.

Parents.

Right.

The arranged fiancée.

I force my expression to remain neutral.

Ethan nods briefly.

“I remember.”

Daniel gestures for me to follow him out of the boardroom.

As I turn toward the door, I feel Ethan’s gaze on my back again.

Like a quiet warning.

Or a promise.

⸻

Daniel shows me to a spacious office overlooking the city skyline.

“This will be your workspace during the project,” he explains.

“It’s perfect,” I say.

He smiles warmly.

“You’ll find everyone here very cooperative. My brother may seem intimidating at first, but he respects competence.”

I resist the urge to laugh.

Intimidating is one way to describe Ethan.

Daniel continues.

“We built this company together after our father stepped down.”

“That must have been challenging.”

“It was,” he admits. “But Ethan is an incredible leader.”

There’s genuine admiration in his voice.

Which makes the situation feel even more complicated.

Daniel glances at his watch.

“I need to run to another meeting, but we’ll go over the operational reports this afternoon.”

“Sounds good.”

After he leaves, I finally sink into the office chair.

And exhale slowly.

What a mess.

Sleeping with the CEO of your client company is definitely not listed in any professional handbook.

My phone buzzes suddenly on the desk.

Unknown number.

I frown and answer.

“Hello?”

A familiar voice speaks quietly on the other end.

“Your office has a nice view.”

My heart immediately skips.

Ethan.

I stand quickly and walk toward the window.

Across the glass tower, another office window reflects sunlight.

And inside it…

Ethan stands, phone against his ear.

Watching me.

“How did you get this number?” I ask quietly.

“I’m the CEO.”

Fair point.

I lower my voice.

“You shouldn’t be calling me.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

A small smile appears on his face through the glass.

“Because of last night?”

My cheeks warm slightly.

“Because of this job.”

He studies me silently for a moment.

Then his voice softens.

“You regret it?”

The question catches me off guard.

I hesitate.

“No.”

Something shifts in his expression.

Relief.

Interest.

Maybe both.

“Good,” he murmurs.

“Ethan…”

“Yes?”

“You’re engaged.”

His jaw tightens slightly.

“That situation is… complicated.”

“That’s not reassuring.”

He leans slightly against the window.

“Neither is pretending last night didn’t happen.”

My pulse quickens.

“We have to be professional.”

His eyes darken slightly.

“We will be.”

Then he adds quietly,

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop wanting you.”

The words send a dangerous warmth through my chest.

And suddenly I realize something.

Working here isn’t just going to be complicated.

It’s going to be impossible.

Because every time Ethan looks at me…

It feels like we’re standing in that hallway again.

One step away from making another reckless mistake.