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The Morning After
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2026-03-07 17:56:04Chapter 6
Lana – POV Morning comes too quickly. Sunlight filters softly through the curtains of the hotel suite, casting warm streaks of gold across the room. For a moment, I stay still, staring at the ceiling. Last night plays through my mind like a slow, dangerous memory. The balcony. The elevator. The hallway. Ethan. My stomach tightens. I slowly turn my head. The other side of the bed is empty. Cold. He’s already gone. A strange mixture of relief and disappointment settles in my chest. Maybe it’s better this way. No awkward conversation. No complicated questions. Just one reckless night in Dubai that ends quietly with the morning. I sit up, pulling the sheet around myself as I glance toward the clock. 8:12 AM. My meeting with the company executives is at 9. “Perfect,” I mutter. Exactly the kind of morning-after situation I was trying to avoid. I get up quickly and head into the shower, letting the warm water wake me up and wash away the lingering haze of the night before. Focus, Lana. You’re here for work. That’s it. By the time I leave the hotel, I’m dressed in a crisp white blouse and tailored black trousers, my hair neatly tied back into a professional bun. Executive consultant mode. Calm. Confident. Untouchable. The black car sent by the company is already waiting outside the hotel. The ride to the headquarters is short, but the closer we get, the tighter the knot in my stomach becomes. Maybe it’s just nerves. Big clients usually make me a little anxious at first. But something about today feels… different. The company building rises in front of me like a glass tower reflecting the morning sun. Impressive. Powerful. Exactly the kind of place that hires consultants like me. Inside, the lobby is sleek and modern. The receptionist greets me politely. “Good morning. You must be Ms. Vale.” “Yes.” “They’re waiting for you upstairs.” She gestures toward the elevators. I thank her and step inside. The elevator ride feels strangely long. My reflection stares back at me from the mirrored walls. Composed. Professional. No one would ever guess what happened last night. The elevator dings. Thirty-fifth floor. The executive level. A woman in a grey suit greets me as soon as the doors open. “Ms. Vale? Please come with me. The board is already assembled.” “Of course.” My heels echo softly against the polished floor as we walk down the hallway. Large glass windows reveal breathtaking views of the city. But I barely notice them. My attention is focused on the double doors at the end of the corridor. The boardroom. The assistant stops and opens the door. “Right this way.” I step inside. And immediately freeze. The room is filled with executives seated around a long polished table. But that’s not what stops me. It’s the man sitting at the head of the table. Ethan. For a split second, my brain refuses to process what I’m seeing. He’s dressed in a sharp charcoal suit, looking completely composed. Completely professional. Completely different from the man who held me in his arms last night. Our eyes meet instantly. And the recognition there sends a shock through my entire body. Oh. My. God. He knew. He knew exactly who I was coming to meet. But the shock isn’t over yet. Because sitting beside him is another man who looks strikingly similar. Younger. But unmistakably related. He stands as soon as I enter the room. “Ms. Vale,” he says warmly. “Welcome. I’m Daniel Hale.” Hale. The name echoes in my mind. My company briefing flashes back to me instantly. Hale Industries. The powerful corporation I was hired to consult for. Daniel Hale. The executive I’m supposed to work closely with during the restructuring project. Which means— My stomach drops. My eyes slowly shift back to Ethan. Daniel continues speaking, unaware of the chaos unfolding inside my head. “This is my brother, Ethan Hale.” The words feel like a bomb exploding in my chest. “CEO of Hale Industries.” Of course he is. Of course the man I spent the night with is the CEO of the company I’m consulting for. Because the universe clearly has a sense of humor. Daniel gestures toward the woman standing beside Ethan. “And this is Selene Park.” Selene. The name hits me like another shock. Selene. The woman Ethan mentioned. The one his family arranged for him to marry. Selene smiles politely and offers her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Vale.” I force my hand to move. “Nice to meet you too.” My voice sounds calm. Professional. Like nothing is wrong. Like my world isn’t spinning slightly right now. But when I glance toward Ethan again… His gaze is still locked on mine. Steady. Unapologetic. Like we share a secret no one else in this room knows. And the worst part? For a brief moment… The corner of his mouth lifts into the faintest hint of a smile. As if he’s remembering last night too. My heart pounds wildly in my chest. Because suddenly I realize something terrifying. Working here is going to be far more complicated than I ever imagined. And somehow… This is only the beginning.
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