3

ETHAN

My blood is moving too fast. I give a simple nod anyway. “I’m excited to be here and work with you all.”

I don’t hear my own voice properly. I don’t feel present. I can’t remember a single line from the speech I rehearsed over and over. It all disappears.

My mind is stuck on Sophie Matthew.

Her blue lace panties. Her legs. The way she was sitting earlier.

I shouldn’t be thinking about it. I know that. But it’s still there, sharp and distracting.

I worked ten years for this role. Ten years of pushing, building, proving myself. And she managed to shake me in a way no boardroom ever did. Without even trying. Just by existing in the same room.

“Don’t start celebrating yet. I’ll still be around, but as you all know, this gray hair didn’t come from nothing,” my uncle Harrison Calloway says.

The room breaks into light laughter.

Everyone laughs.

Except her.

Sophie shifts in her seat. A small movement, like she’s adjusting herself, trying to stay composed. Her face is slightly red now. Not fully embarrassed, but enough to notice. Her long curly brown hair is a bit messy compared to before, like it lost its smoothness.

I try to ignore her. I really do.

But my body reacts anyway. Heat builds. Pressure in my pants that I don’t want to acknowledge. I tighten my jaw.

Harrison continues, still smiling. “Ethan’s experience in mergers and acquisitions is going to bring new energy here. Sophie, I’m reassigning you to work directly with him. And I’ll need you to stay after the meeting.”

My head snaps slightly toward him.

He didn’t tell me this. Not even a hint. Shit.

Don’t look at her.

But I do.

Our eyes meet across the table. It lasts a second too long. Neither of us looks away first.

I expect something different from her. Maybe discomfort. Maybe she would try to smooth things over after earlier.

But she doesn’t.

She just sits there. Calm. Straight. Like none of this shakes her.

That makes it worse.

Harrison keeps talking for a few more minutes. The meeting wraps up shortly after.

People start moving. Chairs shift. Hands are shaken.

I go through the motions. I greet directors, managers, VPs. I smile when I have to.

But my attention keeps drifting back.

When it’s done, I turn toward Sophie again.

She hasn’t moved much. Still seated. Still holding her padfolio on her lap like it’s part of her.

I step closer and offer my hand.

“No need to stand.”

A faint blush returns to her face. It’s subtle, but I see it. She glares at me first before taking my hand.

Her grip is firm. Not soft. Not hesitant. Stronger than I expected.

“Welcome,” she says. Flat. Controlled.

Her skin is warm in my hand. I hold it longer than I should. I tell myself to let go, but I don’t immediately.

Then I release it.

Harrison pulls out a chair beside her and sits. “Ethan, sit. Sophie is not only our youngest director ever, she’s also a level-four director and on track to become VP soon.”

There’s pride in his voice. Real pride.

Youngest.

The word sticks.

How young is she?

The thought comes fast. I almost ask, but I stop myself. Wrong question for this setting. Not something I should even be thinking about.

“Congratulations,” I say, forcing my attention away from her.

“Thank you,” she replies. No change in tone. No warmth.

“Sit,” Harrison repeats.

I sit beside her.

Her scent hits me immediately.

No perfume. Nothing artificial. Just her. Clean. Close. It’s worse than anything else because it feels real.

I inhale before I can stop myself, then force a slow exhale. Try to reset.

Harrison leans back slightly, smiling. “I’m excited about this. Both of you working together is going to be good.”

I try to think. I try to find a way out of this situation already forming around me.

Before I can, Sophie speaks.

“Bennett, I appreciate the opportunity, but I’m in the middle of sixteen projects. I don’t think I can take on something else. There might be someone better suited.”

Harrison doesn’t hesitate. He smiles wider, like he expected this.

“I already reviewed everything. Your projects have been reassigned. Those were small compared to this. Ethan’s work matters more. You need to be here.”

She pauses. You can see her thinking it through. She doesn’t like it.

“I don’t like leaving things unfinished,” she says.

Harrison cuts in immediately. “Don’t worry about it. That’s handled. This is where you’re needed.”

She breathes in slowly. Controlled. Like she’s trying not to show frustration.

“Alright, Harrison. If you think it’s the right decision.”

“It is. Now both of you take some time. Get to know each other. Ethan, bring her up to speed.”

He stands and leaves the room.

The door closes.

Silence settles.

It’s just us now.

I lean back in my chair, letting my posture relax while my eyes stay on her.

She turns toward me slowly, like she’s been waiting for this moment. “Well?”

She taps her pen on the table. Small, steady sound. Not nervous. Not rushed.

I know I shouldn’t say what comes next.

But I do anyway.

“I expect employees to show up on time and dressed appropriately.”

Her expression shifts immediately. A flash of surprise. Just a second.

Then it’s gone. She recovers fast.

She leans back slightly, then resets her posture. Calm again. Controlled again.

“I explained why I was late. A decent person would’ve asked if I was okay,” she says. Her voice is steady, but sharp at the edges. “Maybe take some lessons in kindness from your uncle.”

My eyes drop before I can stop them. I don’t mean to look, but I do. Her blouse, her shape, the way she sits without noticing the effect it has.

I force my voice to stay even. “Good thing I’m not decent.”

Her jaw tightens.

She stands up slowly. No hesitation now. Then she steps forward and stops right between my legs, close enough that I have to tilt my head up slightly.

“I think this meeting is over. Is that okay, boss?”

A small grin pulls at my mouth before I can stop it.

“You can go. I’ll let you know when I need you. And clean your knee. It’ll get infected.”

Her face twists in disgust, like I crossed a line she won’t even explain.

She turns sharply and walks out.

The door shuts behind her.

I stay where I am.

The room feels too quiet now.

I run both hands down my face and breathe out slowly, trying to get control of myself again. Trying to push everything back where it belongs.

It doesn’t fully work.

She hates me now.

That part is clear.

Good. That’s how it should be.

But it doesn’t fix anything.

I still want her.

And that thought sits there, steady and unwanted, like it’s not going anywhere.