All Chapters of The Night Before I Knew Him: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

JuneThere’s something about cheap tequila and half a degree of confidence that makes me think I can get away with anything."Okay, June, your turn." Leila waves her phone in my face. "Truth or dare?"I lean back against the velvet bar booth, head buzzing from the last round of drinks. We’re four girls deep into celebration, lipstick smudged, heels lost, and so drunk. So so drunk."I pick dare," I say, because of course I do.Leila’s eyes light up. "See that guy at the bar? The one in the dark gray suit, second stool from the end?"I glance — and almost regret it.Second stool from the end. Jacket undone, tie missing, shirt collar open just enough to see a sliver of chest. He’s got one hand wrapped around a tumbler of something dark, the other twitching on his knee like he’s trying to hold still. But his stillness is loud. Charged. Like a switch waiting to flip."Are you trying to get me killed?" I ask, my brows furrowing.Leila snorts. “He’s hot. And definitely older. You said you wa

~Hermes ~Fuck!The word echoes through the glass walls of my office like a bullet off marble.I don’t whisper it. I mean it.She messed up a date on the board presentation. One date. But it could’ve cost us a multi-million-dollar partner. I don’t tolerate sloppiness, especially not in the current situation I am.So I fired her.It’s barely 8 a.m., and my blood pressure’s already peaking. My jaw aches from clenching. I roll my shoulders back and pour a shot of espresso from the machine behind my desk, black as night. I swallow it like a drug and drop the glass back in the tray.The office is too bright.I walk to the window and let the sun cut into my face. I should be focused on the shareholder report, on the quarterly pivot for Apex’s innovation funnel, on… anything other than her.But I’m not.I can’t stop thinking about the girl from the bar.That mouthy, tequila-soaked, hazel-eyed girl with the boldness of a poker player and the dress of someone who didn’t know the word “modest.”

JuneI storm into the apartment like a volcano erupting. Thankfully, shorty after press conference, he dismissed everyone, and left the company. In. A. Foul. Mood.The front door slams hard enough to shake the keys off the hook. My jacket gets flung onto the floor. My bag drops next. My rage, though, I don't think that one leaving soon.Kayla sprawled across the couch with her phone in hand, legs swinging over the armrest like she’s auditioning for a toothpaste commercial. She barely blinks."You’re back early," she says, chewing gum like it’s my soul. "Didn't expect that from the newest intern in the city," I don’t answer. I start pacing, kicking off my heels, one, then the other, both clattering against the tile.Kayla watches. “Sooo... something happen at the Apex Palace of Corporate Despair?”I spin around, wide-eyed. "Something happened?" I laugh, and it sounded like a threat. "You want to know what happened to me hours ago? I just found out that the guy I slept with two night

JunePhew. I sigh as I watch the car drive off.For a second there, I thought he was going to fire me.Relief washes over me… then embarrassment slaps me in the face.How the hell did I not notice my tits were practically on display?Oh God.First, I sleep with him—and now this? He’s going to think I’m doing it on purpose. Like I’m trying to seduce him.Shit. I hail a cab and go straight home. CEO’s orders.As I step inside, Leila lifts a brow, unplugging her curling iron."Well now, you’re awfully back early. Did you get kicked out of the internship or quit yourself?"I collapse onto the couch with a loud groan. "Thankfully, I survived Day Two. But something so embarrassing happened."Her eyes go wide. "What? What is it?" She rushes over.I don’t answer. I just shrug off the driver's jacket and show her the shirt underneath.She stares, confused, at first, then slowly, her mouth parts."No." A horrified gasp.I nod. "Mm-hmm.""You didn’t know?""Not a single freaking clue. And I fol

JuneI turn away from the sight of him before my ovaries file a formal complaint.Adjusting the coffee in my grip, I start to move toward his desk, determined to keep it together. Do not look at him again. Don’t. I tell myself, chin up, eyes low.But of course, I do.And there they are. His forearms. Those veins muscles, his sleeves rolled up just enough to make me remember.And just like that, my brain betrays me.I remember those same hands — the way they pushed me back against the hotel wall, firm and hurried. How they gripped my waist like they’d done it a hundred times before, tugging me close until our hips aligned until I could feel the thick, straining length of him pressed hard against my stomach.My fingers twitch, which made the cup shifts, and I nearly spill it.Shit.Before I can recover, his hand snaps out and grabs my wrist firmly, controlled, and steady. His touch burns through me like an electric shock.Our eyes meet, and he drops my hand like I infected him."Try no