Chapter 1 – The First Encounter

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing the polished marble floors of Carter Enterprises’ top level. The space was quiet, pristine, almost intimidating in its perfection. For a moment, Selena hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her handbag. She still couldn’t believe she was here.

Her cousin’s accident had been sudden and unfortunate, and the last thing Selena expected was to be asked to step in as a temporary replacement. She wasn’t a secretary by trade—far from it. Fresh out of university with dreams of exploring her own career, she had never imagined walking into the office of one of the most powerful CEOs in the city. But family obligations left her with little choice. A month. That’s what she promised. Just one month until her cousin recovered.

She inhaled deeply, trying to steady her nerves.

The reception desk at the far end was empty, but she could hear the faint clicking of shoes echoing down the hall. The office smelled faintly of leather, coffee, and something sharper—expensive cologne, maybe. She followed the hallway until she reached the large glass door etched with a single name:

Ethan Carter

The weight of that name hit her harder than expected. She had read about him, of course. Everyone had. Ethan Carter wasn’t just a CEO—he was a symbol. At thirty-three, he had built Carter Enterprises into a dominant force in international marketing and branding. Ruthless in negotiations, charismatic in public, feared in the boardroom. And now… her boss.

Selena straightened her blouse, brushed an invisible wrinkle from her skirt, and knocked softly.

“Come in.”

His voice was deep, smooth, carrying a command that made her spine tingle. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The office was breathtaking—floor-to-ceiling windows stretching across the skyline, glass and steel reflecting the morning light. A massive mahogany desk stood in the center, sleek and imposing. And behind it, Ethan Carter himself.

He rose slowly from his chair, tall and broad-shouldered, presence filling the room even before he moved. His dark navy suit fit him perfectly, accentuating the athletic build beneath. A silk tie framed the crisp white shirt, and a luxury watch glinted at his wrist as he adjusted his cufflinks.

But it wasn’t the suit or the watch that caught her off guard—it was his eyes. Sharp, piercing green, so intense that when they locked onto her, it felt as though he was peeling back layers she didn’t even know she had.

Selena swallowed hard.

“You must be Selena,” he said, his tone calm, but laced with something heavier—curiosity, maybe even suspicion.

“Yes, sir,” she managed, her voice quieter than she intended. “I’m here… filling in for my cousin while she recovers.”

He studied her for a long moment, the corner of his mouth lifting into the faintest smirk. Not warm, not kind—but amused.

“I see. Temporary, then.”

She nodded quickly. “Yes. Just for a month.”

Ethan walked around the desk, closing the distance between them. Every step seemed deliberate, measured, until he was standing close enough that she could catch the faint scent of his cologne—rich, sophisticated, undeniably masculine.

“You don’t look like a secretary,” he said bluntly, eyes scanning her face, then lingering briefly on her posture.

Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I—uh—I can handle the work, Mr. Carter.”

He tilted his head, gaze unwavering. “We’ll see.”

The tension in the room thickened, unspoken yet impossible to ignore. Selena’s heart pounded, her palms damp against the leather strap of her bag. She had walked in expecting intimidation, professionalism, maybe even indifference. What she hadn’t expected was… this. The weight of his presence. The magnetic pull that unsettled her in ways she couldn’t explain.

Ethan finally stepped back, giving her a fraction of space. He gestured toward the desk opposite his. “Sit. We’ll go over your responsibilities.”

She exhaled softly, relieved for the distance, yet strangely disappointed too. Pulling the chair out, she sat down and smoothed her skirt over her knees.

As he began explaining schedules, meetings, and protocols, she tried to focus on his words—but her mind kept drifting. To his commanding voice, the way his green eyes seemed to linger too long, and that smirk… as if he already knew the effect he had on her.

And in that moment, Selena realized this month would be nothing like she imagined.

This wasn’t just a job.

This was temptation, wrapped in a tailored navy suit.

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