One Night, One Choice: A Passionate Encounter That Changes Everything (Part 2)

Samantha’s heart pounded as she stared at the business card in her trembling hand. Alexander Wolfe. CEO of Wolfe Enterprises. The man she had spent the night with was the very person she was supposed to impress in today’s meeting.

Her mind spun, searching for a way out of this disaster. Should she slip away before he woke up? Would he even remember her once they were sitting across from each other in a boardroom?

But as she turned toward the door, a deep, sleep-roughened voice stopped her.

"Running away already?"

She froze, gripping her dress tightly. Slowly, she turned to see Alexander sitting up, the sheets pooling around his waist, exposing his sculpted chest. His dark eyes, now fully awake, locked onto hers.

"I—uh—I have a meeting," she stammered, trying to keep her voice steady.

A slow smirk spread across his face. "Me too. Pretty important one, actually."

Her stomach twisted. Did he already know?

He ran a hand through his tousled hair, studying her. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

She hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward and holding up the business card. "You’re Alexander Wolfe. CEO of Wolfe Enterprises."

He blinked, his expression unreadable. Then, as if the realization clicked, his smirk disappeared.

"And you," he said slowly, "are Samantha Carter. Business development manager for Harper & Co."

She swallowed hard. "Yes."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The air was thick with tension—not the kind that had existed between them last night, but something else. Something heavier.

Samantha let out a nervous laugh. "So, I guess this makes things…complicated."

Alexander exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "You could say that."

She crossed her arms. "Are you going to use this against me? To get an upper hand in the deal?"

His brows furrowed. "Is that what you think of me?"

"I don’t know," she admitted. "I don’t know you at all."

His expression softened slightly. "Last night wasn’t about business, Samantha. It wasn’t some setup or strategy." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "I didn’t know who you were. And I sure as hell didn’t plan for this."

Neither had she.

She took a shaky breath. "So what happens now?"

A flicker of something unreadable passed over his face. "That depends."

"On what?"

He stood, walking toward her, his presence commanding even in his disheveled state. "On whether you’re going to pretend last night didn’t happen."

She shivered as he stopped just inches away. "I—"

Her phone buzzed in her clutch, making her jump. Grateful for the distraction, she grabbed it and saw Julia’s name flashing on the screen.

Where are you?? The meeting starts in an hour!

Panic surged through her. "I have to go," she blurted out.

Alexander nodded but didn’t move. "We’ll see each other again soon."

She didn’t know if it was a warning or a promise.

With one last lingering glance, she slipped out the door, leaving behind the most unforgettable night of her life.

---

An Hour Later – Harper & Co. Headquarters

Samantha walked into the glass conference room, her pulse erratic. She had spent the cab ride rehearsing how to handle the situation. She would remain professional. Focus on the deal. Ignore the way her skin still tingled from Alexander’s touch.

But the moment he walked into the room, looking effortlessly composed in a dark navy suit, her breath caught.

Their eyes met. A silent acknowledgment. A secret no one else in the room knew.

"Mr. Wolfe," her boss, Richard Harper, greeted, extending a hand. "It’s an honor to finally meet you."

Alexander shook his hand firmly. "Likewise."

Samantha kept her face neutral as he turned to her. "Miss Carter," he said smoothly, offering his hand. "A pleasure to meet you."

Her stomach flipped as she took his hand, his grip warm and firm. "You as well, Mr. Wolfe."

Not even a flicker of recognition crossed his face. He was playing the part perfectly.

The meeting began, discussions unfolding about partnerships, contract terms, and long-term goals. Samantha forced herself to stay focused, but every time Alexander spoke, her mind betrayed her, flashing back to whispered conversations in bed, the way his hands had felt on her body.

She barely noticed when Richard addressed her.

"Samantha, what’s your take on this proposal?"

She straightened, clearing her throat. "I believe the terms are strong, but we should negotiate for a longer trial period before committing to a full contract."

Alexander tilted his head, his lips twitching slightly. "I agree. Flexibility is key."

For the next hour, they exchanged ideas and counterpoints—both sharp, both relentless. It was like a game of chess, but beneath it all, there was an undercurrent neither of them acknowledged.

As the meeting concluded, Richard clapped Alexander on the back. "Let’s finalize the details over dinner next week."

"Sounds good," Alexander replied. Then he glanced at Samantha. "Miss Carter, I’d like to continue our discussion privately. If you have time."

Her breath caught.

Richard nodded approvingly. "Samantha, handle that, will you?"

"Of course," she managed, her voice steady.

Alexander led her to a quiet hallway just outside the conference room. The moment they were alone, he smirked.

"You held your own in there," he said.

She crossed her arms. "I do my job well."

"That you do." He leaned against the wall, his gaze burning into hers. "So… about last night."

She braced herself. "It won’t happen again."

He arched a brow. "You sure about that?"

She hesitated, just for a second.