2

"Amanda? Amanda!"

Amanda started, her father's voice finally bringing her back to the present.

She wasn't dreaming.

Lucas Erikson, the man she fucked for an entire week at the resort, was standing before her. And, apparently, he was the new CEO of the company.

Those grey eyes pierced into her. A smile appeared on his lips. He stuck his hand out.

"Good evening. It's nice to meet you, Amanda."

Amanda's eyes flitted from his outstretched hand to his face. Was this a joke?

Aware of her father's worried look and the observing executives around them, she forced a smile onto her face. She accepted his hand. There was nothing ladylike about her squeeze. "Hello, nice to meet you."

Her father beamed at the successful introduction. "Lucas formerly worked at—"

"Dad?" she interrupted, her fiery eyes locked on Lucas's. "Do you mind if I have a private word with the new CEO? I'm curious about what he has in mind for my company."

She made a point of emphasising the word 'my'. For the first time, she was regretting not being involved in the selection process for the new CEO. She had trusted her father when he said he had the perfect candidate in mind.

The Chairman looked between the two before nodding. "Sure, sure. He's all yours."

Amanda released Lucas's hand and made her way towards the terrace.

With a nod to the Chairman, Lucas followed.

It was then or never.

When she came to the privacy of the terrace, Amanda whirled on the man behind her. "You don't look surprised to see me."

Lucas raised his palms. "I know how this looks like…"

Amanda's laugh cut him short. "Do you?" She paced. "You knew who I was, right?"

"When we met, I didn't know."

"When did you find out?"

"After our first night together."

Amanda scoffed. "Wow." She walked to the railing and stared at the city lights beyond. "Fantastic."

Lucas approached, reaching out for her. "Amanda—"

She took a step back. "Don't touch me!"

He sighed and dropped his hand. "Look, I know what you're thinking. But you're wrong."

Her eyes narrowed. "Am I?"

Did he want to claim that it was a coincidence? That he really didn't know who she was that night they ended up in her cabin after running into each other at dinner? What a coincidence that he came straight to her table when he arrived at the resort! How stupid could she be?

"I swear I didn't know who you were."

He must live in a cave to not know her. Okay, so, apparently, he was from New York. But if he already knew he was going to join Lemaiyan Fits, how could he not know her? The only headlines the company had been making for an entire month now was regarding her love life woes.

"Let's say you didn't. You still found out the next day. Why did you pretend you didn't know me?"

"I didn't want to ruin what we had."

"Ruin?" She shook her head. "Did you feel sorry for me? Is that why you stuck around, being a gentleman?"

Lucas stepped up to her, his eyes digging into hers. "I have sex for a lot of reasons, Amanda. That's not one of them."

She met his gaze head on. "This trick has been used on me before, Erikson. Whatever you thought you were going to get, you can forget about it."

He snarled. "I'm not like that asshole."

He was talking about Samuel. So he already knew about the details of her engagement. Great.

"Get ready to go back to wherever you came from," she threatened, walking past him.

Before she could get far, his hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her back. She gasped as her body collided into his.

His grey eyes burned into hers. "I admit, I was wrong to pretend to not know you after I found out your identity. But don't insult me by insinuating that I slept with you to gain favour. If you take a moment and check where I come from, you'll realise me coming to Lemaiyan Fits is a step down, not up."

Their faces were inches apart. Her body shivered, and she was struck speechless. Having her body pressed up to his wasn't doing her any favours. His scent, that same spicy cologne she remembered from their dalliance in the mountains, crowded her senses.

She almost forgot what she was angry about.

"I was attracted to you, Amanda. That's the only reason I fúcked you."

She swallowed and sucked in a heavy breath.

Lucas finally let her go and she took a step back. "I'll not bring up what happened at the resort if you don't. It was sex and it was good while it lasted. But I have no intention of letting it come between our work relationship."

Amanda wrapped her arms around herself. She didn't like his tone. Was she the only one who kept thinking about those days?

"Fine," she agreed, straightening her spine. "I'll forget I ever met you before this."

She turned around to leave only to come face to face with Rebecca. She remained rooted to the spot as her older sister walked into the balcony, her eyes going from her to Lucas.

She scoffed.

"Already sneaking into the shadows with the new CEO, Amanda?"