LOGINStevanSince my boss’s mood seemed even worse than usual, I decided not to keep him waiting. I left my things on my desk and headed straight for his office.The door was already open.He stood with his back to the entrance, staring out the window, hands planted on his hips in that familiar posture of silent tension I’d learned to recognize all too well.I closed the door behind me as I stepped inside. Not that he cared about discretion—quite the opposite. If he decided to yell, the entire floor would hear every word. Still, I preferred not to turn this into another public spectacle.“Yes, sir?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.He turned immediately, and the look on his face nearly made me roll my eyes.“Now you’re going to explain what the hell that stunt was—having lunch with the CEO.”He walked toward me slowly, but there was aggression in every step.“Do you really think that just because you presented that report and made me look like a fool, you can start getting ideas ab
StevanEric lifted the wine glass to his lips, his gaze still locked on me, before speaking again.“Forgive the question, Stevan,” he began after a few seconds, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You mentioned your mother is sick. What does she have?”I blinked slowly. So he really wanted to keep talking about me—and that might have been the most disorienting part of this entire situation.“One of her kidneys isn’t working anymore. She needs more hemodialysis sessions until she can get a transplant, but the insurance won’t approve the extra ones,” I explained, trying to keep my voice steady.Eric’s expression shifted almost immediately. He set his glass down and leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. Those brown eyes stayed fixed on mine with an intensity that felt almost too heavy to bear, like he was trying to see past every word.Instinctively, I wanted to look away. But this time, I couldn’t.“What would you do to get the money she needs for treatment?”The question
StevanI stared at my reflection in the mirror, gripping the cool marble edge of the sink. My mind was a complete mess. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what the all-powerful CEO of the company could possibly want from me. Just being near him was enough to make me nervous—as if the car ride hadn’t already proven that.The worst part was that one sentence.“I found you interesting.”How could someone like Eric Winter say something like that to someone like me? He was the kind of man who made people lose their breath the second he walked into a room. Men, women—it didn’t matter. All it took was a few seconds of his attention, and the whole space seemed to orbit around him.So what the hell was so interesting about me?I knew I shouldn’t think like that. I knew I needed to stop seeing myself as lesser. But years of built-up frustration, insecurity, and rejection didn’t vanish just because an absurdly attractive man decided to say two kind words over lunch.I let out a slow breath, st
EricI wondered whether my slipping control was simply the result of months of abstinence or if Stevan had managed to disarm me in a way no one else ever had. I hadn’t meant to bring up Ágata’s club, but the words were already out before I could stop them.He had mentioned his mother the night before, even if he probably didn’t remember half of what he’d said while drunk. I’d also noticed from the start how carefully he spoke about his boss—like someone used to weighing every word to avoid trouble.But I needed to hear the truth from him. Sober. Fully aware. With no alcohol tearing down his walls.“Stevan, you can tell me the truth,” I said, keeping my voice steady and low. “This won’t cause any problems for you. Your job is safe with me.”He took another sip of water. His fingers gripped the glass too tightly, the tension bleeding through despite how hard he tried to hide it.“The harassment… it does happen,” he finally admitted, eyes dropping to the table.My jaw tightened.“Has it
StevanEric watched me in silence, unhurried, his gaze steady and far too perceptive. For a moment, I had the uncomfortable feeling that he could see straight through me, reading every anxious thought racing through my head.“Stevan, I chose to have this conversation outside the office precisely so you’d feel free to tell me the truth,” he said quietly. “So I expect you not to lie or hold anything back. A lot of people think certain things go unnoticed in my company. They’re very much mistaken.”The way he said it made my skin prickle. It sounded like he already knew more than he was letting on. Maybe he was aware of the power trips. Maybe even the harassment.My stomach knotted instantly.“I’m usually the one who puts those reports together,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady even as my hands trembled under the table. “He gives the orders. I follow them.”Eric’s expression shifted—just a flicker, almost too subtle to catch, but I saw it. It was enough to tell me I’d only con
StevanThe silence inside the car grew thicker with every passing second. I had no idea how to act around Eric after what happened at the club. Since he hadn’t mentioned a single word about it, I figured he wanted to keep that night buried.Maybe I should do the same. Stick to work. Keep things professional.“You don’t have to be so nervous around me,” he said suddenly, breaking the quiet.There was a hint of amusement in his voice and the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth—the same look he’d worn at the club.Heat flooded my face.“Sorry… honestly, it’s kind of hard not to feel a little nervous sitting in a car with the CEO of the company. It’s intimidating,” I tried to keep my tone light, but my voice came out shakier than I wanted.He glanced away from the road for a moment, one eyebrow lifting slightly.“Intimidating?”My heart stumbled. God. How could someone look even more attractive with just that small expression?“So I intimidate you?” he asked calmly, clearly
Stevan reached for the glass with obvious hesitation, his fingers brushing the cool surface like it might bite. He studied the amber liquid for a heartbeat, then brought it to his lips. The first sip hit him hard—he couldn’t quite hide the quick twist of his mouth, that fleeting grimace that told m
Since I had the evening free, I already knew where I was going.The club was private, discreet, and predictable. Exactly the way I liked it.Everything there operated within expectations. Impeccable service. Interactions were limited to what was necessary. No surprises.It was one of the few places
EricI ended the meeting with a curt nod and closed the door behind me harder than necessary.No one said a word. They never did.I strode down the corridor while employees either averted their eyes or suddenly became very focused on their screens. That was exactly how I preferred it. Control wasn’
I glanced at Diego. For a split second, I had the uncomfortable feeling that he’d read every silent word I hadn’t dared to say out loud.“If you were up for it, we could straight-up auction off your virginity,” he blurted, nudging my shoulder with a grin, clearly amused by his own idea.I nearly di







