Chapter 2

Pierce.

I wasn’t going on that date.

Not tonight. Not ever, if I had anything to say about it.

My mother has tried again—some desperate attempt to tether me to a future she could control. The girl she picked this time? Probably another prim, pre-packaged heiress with a collection of designer handbags and nothing interesting to say.

I pulled off the road before I could talk myself into pretending I was polite. A narrow path, barely visible under the moonlight, led me toward the forest I used to sneak into as a teenager. I hadn’t been here in years.

Somewhere between the quiet and the smoke curling from the cigarette between my lips, I found peace. Brief, but enough.

And then—I heard it.

A soft swaying sound that didn’t belong in the river at a time like this. 

I stepped closer, slipping through the trees like some half-curious predator. I didn’t know what I expected—maybe a raccoon.

What I saw instead made my pulse hitch.

She walked out of the river like a hallucination.

Naked.

Drenched in moonlight, water sliding down curves that felt too perfect to be real. She moved like the night owed her something. Like she was something ancient the world forgot.

Her face was cloaked in shadows, but it didn’t matter. Her presence hit me like a slow punch to the chest.

I took a step forward, breath held.

Then, of course—snap.

My foot found the only dry branch in the goddamn forest.

She turned—quick, head tilting slightly like she heard more than just sound. I saw the outline of her profile, but still not her face. Like the universe was playing a game with me.

I backed up fast, heart thudding like a fool. When I looked again—she was gone.

She was like a dream you chase in your sleep and wake up mad you lost.

That woman... she didn’t feel real.

But she felt unforgettable.

~~~~~

Back in the car, I barely noticed how fast I was driving until a tiny Vitz tried to cut me off and beeped like I’d stolen her lunch.

I slowed down just enough to see the driver leaning out her window.

She flipped me off.

I rolled down my window, just to see what kind of gremlin dared curse at me in that tiny clown car.

She had fire in her eyes. Real rage. Like she was one bad song away from snapping. There was something... familiar about her. I couldn't place it.

“Learn how to drive,” I told her. “Or take a bus.”

She didn’t miss a beat. “Fuck you!”

Then the light turned green, and she peeled off like she’d won.

I smirked, against my will.

Phone buzzed. Mother—again.

I ignored the call and sent a text: Busy.

What I didn’t text was: I just saw a river ghost and got cussed out by a human fireball, so no, I’m not coming to dinner.

Instead, I drove home with a strange feeling in my chest.

Because for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t bored. I had two women occupying my mind. 

And somehow, I had the very real feeling I hadn’t seen the last of either of them.

~~~~~~~~

Alexis 

Okay, I knew the penthouse was going to be nice since it's in Manhattan. 

But this?

This was ridiculous.

I walked in and immediately lost all feeling in my face. Chandeliers clean marble. A view of the city that looked like something off a movie poster. The rug probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Hell, the doormat probably had a credit score higher than mine.

I clutched the mop like I was holding a sword. “Don’t cry,” I whispered to myself. “You’re not broke. You’re budgeting emotionally.”

Then I saw the bras and thongs. On lamps, couches, one was literally hanging off a cactus in the corner. I stared at it for a full five seconds before deciding I didn’t want to know.

Judging by the glitter, empty champagne bottles, and confetti still stuck to the ceiling fan, this place had hosted a party. A wild one at that. Possibly illegal, the kind that ends with someone being named in a tabloid headline.

I didn’t care. Not my business. I was here to clean and get paid. I turned on my music and hummed as I worked.

“Cause all of me… loves all of you…”

My voice trailed off.

I yanked my phone out and deleted the entire playlist. None of that romance garbage. 

Then—ding from the elevator.

I turned toward it casually. Probably the agency checking in. Or another cleaner.

When those doors slid open I almost dropped the mop.

It was him.

The road menace. Ferrari devil. Mr. "Get Off the Road, Peasant."

Wearing a suit, looking like a stock photo for “hot CEO with issues,” and just as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

“You,” I blurted out.

“You?” he shot back, just as confused.

I couldn’t help it—I had to look him over again.

The guy in the Ferrari was bad enough, but in person? He was... a whole other level. Like, Hollywood movie star level. Tall, broad-shouldered, perfectly tailored suit that screamed money, and that face? Jeez. I’d been too focused on being pissed at him earlier to really notice, but now I was forced to—he wasn't just handsome but very sexy. 

Too bad he was still a giant pain in my ass.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, hands on my hips.

He took a slow, deliberate look around the penthouse before his eyes returned to me, “What the hell are you doing here?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re the one who followed me. You’re the stalker, buddy, not me.”

He gave me that irritating smirk. “I didn’t follow you.”

“Then why the hell are you here?” I shot back, crossing my arms. “Oh, right, you’re here to peek under my skirt. Pervert.”

I swear, the look on his face was like he was fighting a grin. “This is my apartment,” he said, leaning against the doorframe with far too much confidence for my liking.

“Your apartment?” I scoffed. “Yeah, sure it is. It’s not your place. You wish it was. This is some kind of stalker fantasy, huh?”

He didn’t flinch. Just stood there, annoyingly composed, like a model for the ‘How to Look Like You Own Everything’ catalogue.

I wasn’t having it. “Right. Okay. Hold on. I’ll be right back,” I muttered under my breath, then marched to the elevator.

I hit the button a little harder than necessary. But whatever. 

I’d just had enough of this asshole. If he thought he could intimidate me in my own damn job, he had another thing coming.

The elevator dinged, and I stepped in, making sure the door closed behind me quickly. A few floors down, I got off, walked straight to the lobby, and called the front desk.

“There’s a stalker in my penthouse,” I said, voice perfectly calm but seething underneath.

A few minutes later, I was back in the elevator, my lips curled into a happy little smile. 

When the doors opened on the top floor again, I walked in, followed by two huge security guards in black suits. 

The look on his face when he saw them... priceless. 

I pointed straight at him, my finger trembling just a little from the rush of doing something that wasn’t just cleaning. 

“That’s him,” I said, nodding dramatically. “That’s the guy.”

The security guards moved in immediately, surrounding him, and his expression finally shifted from that untouchable mask to a hint of I-should-have-known-this-was-coming.

But instead of anything interesting happening, the two guards just stared at each other, awkwardly cleared their throats, and one said, “We apologize, sir. She's new.”

I blinked. Sir? I'm doomed! 

“You… you work for him?” I said, voice a little more than just surprised.

The guards nodded like this wasn’t an absurd scenario. “Mr. Carter is the owner of this penthouse.”

“Mr. Carter,” I repeated, my mouth going dry. “This… this is Mr. Carter?”

Both of the guards nodded in unison, almost like they were rehearsing.

“Well... fuck!”

I've just started this job, I have rent that's due to pay. I fucked up so bad. I can imagine Kevin and Stephanie laughing so hard at my pathetic self as I beg on the streets for some change.

I just accused my very own boss of being a stalker!