chapter 2:the distraction

(Nathan’s POV):

He didn’t make a habit of taking strangers home.

Nathan Carter lived his life with rules. Discipline. Control. Everything about his company, his reputation, his image—it was calculated.

But something about her had shattered that control the moment she walked into the hotel bar.

She looked like heartbreak wrapped in a dress. A storm he shouldn’t touch. But he did.

He didn’t know her name. Didn’t need to. There was pain in her eyes, anger too. The kind he understood. She didn’t want to talk. She wanted to forget.

And for one night, he let himself forget too.

She hadn’t stayed to talk. She was gone when he woke, like a whisper—no note, no goodbye. Just her scent on his pillow and a memory of her soft body curled against his.

He expected that to be the end.

Until she walked into his office.

Nathan stood behind his desk, reviewing the morning schedule, when the door opened and the new hire stepped in.

At first, he only caught her silhouette. Slim. Confident. Professional. Then she lifted her head.

And the world stopped.

No way.

Same eyes. Same mouth. Same everything.

The woman from last night was standing in front of him, pretending not to recognize him, and looking like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

He hid his reaction in half a second.

“Miss Bennett,” he said, extending his hand like nothing was wrong. “Welcome to Carter & Co.”

She took it, her grip strong—but her eyes flicked toward the door, calculating escape routes.

She wasn’t the only one shaken.

Nathan’s mind raced as he tried to remember what she’d told him last night. Which was… nothing. Not even her name. No small talk. No personal details. He hadn’t known she was starting at his company.

She looked different now—polished, sharp. But he could still see the woman from the night before in the way her fingers nervously twisted the edge of her blazer.

“You’ll be working under Matthew Hughes in Strategy,” he continued, slipping back into CEO mode. “I’ve reviewed your background. Impressive. We’re lucky to have you.”

She nodded once, voice tight. “Thank you, Mr. Carter.”

Mr. Carter.

Not Nathan. Not the man she had kissed like she was drowning.

He gestured to the seating area, offering a chair, but she shook her head.

“I think I should report to my department,” she said quickly.

He let her go.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Nathan leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly.

What the hell had he just walked into?

He had already decided to forget that night but how could he.

Breathing slowly the memories of the night flooded his mind.

"well shit," Nathan muttered to himself.

hi lovies sorry the chapter is short but I hope you are enjoy and please don't judge it's my first book and am still learning. Thanks 😊. see you on the next chapter.