Serena's POV
The light forcing its way through my eyelids felt like punishment. My head throbbed, my throat was dry, and my lower body... ached in ways that made me blush even before I opened my eyes.
I groaned, rolling over, only to freeze when my hand brushed against warm skin.
My eyes flew open instantly.
A man lay beside me, bare-chested, the sheet barely covering his waist. His hair was messy, dark, and his face looked even better than I remembered under the dim bar lights last night.
He had a sharp jawline and sculpted shoulders. He was the kind of man who looked like sin in human form.
And I had just... oh my God!
Flashes of the night hit me in fragments. I recalled the way his hands gripping my waist, my soft gasp as he whispered against my ear, the way he said my name like a promise before everything went dark.
I sat up quickly, the blanket sliding down my chest. Panic shot through me when I realized I was completely naked.
"What the hell did I do?" I whispered to myself, pressing my fingers to my forehead. Did I just have a one night stand... to a stranger?
His arm shifted, and I froze again. But he didn't wake up. He only turned slightly, his lips curving into the faintest smirk as if even in his sleep, he was teasing me.
I swallowed, quickly grabbing my coat and gathering my scattered clothes from the floor. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
One night. It was just one reckless, alcohol-fueled mistake.
I slipped into my skirt, shoved my shoes into my hand, and tiptoed toward the door. Before leaving, I turned once more to look at him. Thankfully... I had changed before going to the bar last night.
Whoever he was, he looked like the kind of man who could ruin a woman without even trying.
I left before I did something stupid, like stare at him a second longer.
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By the time I reached my apartment, my makeup was smudged, my hair was a mess, and I looked like I'd just walked out of a bad romance movie.
I took a quick shower and sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection.
"You're an idiot, Serena," I muttered. "One heartbreak and now you're out here having one-night stands like some broken cliché."
But deep down, I couldn't forget the way he'd looked at me. The way he'd touched me. It wasn't just lust. It was something else. It was intense and consuming.
I shook the thought away. No more overthinking. It was a mistake. A one-time thing. It could never happen again. I'd never see him again. I comforted myself with this thought.
I had work in two hours, and I refused to let last night mess that up.
Our company was experiencing a managerial shift. We should be expecting a new CEO.
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The office was buzzing when I arrived. Everyone looked on edge.
"They're saying the new CEO is coming in today," Maya whispered as she hurried over to my desk. "Apparently he's some rich investor from abroad who bought the company shares overnight. People say he's intimidating as hell."
"Great," I said under my breath. "That's exactly what I need, a terrifying boss."
Maya frowned at me. "You look pale. Are you okay? I didn't see you after you left the dancefloor. I even tried calling your number, but it didn't go through."
"I left early, and I didn't sleep much," I lied, forcing a smile.
Before she could press further, a familiar laugh made my blood run cold.
It was Ethan.
And beside him was Jessica. She was wearing a tight pencil skirt and that irritating smirk that made my hands itch.
I looked away immediately, pretending to be busy with the stack of reports on my desk.
"Well, if it isn't Serena," Jessica's voice cut through the air. "You look... tired. Rough night?"
I didn't answer.
Ethan snickered. "Don't tell me you actually went out drinking after storming off last night. You're really that desperate, huh?"
My hands clenched at my sides.
Jessica leaned against my desk, her perfume making me nauseous. "Oh, come on. Don't be shy. It's not like you had anything better to do. Maybe she went to cry at some bar, Ethan. You broke her little heart, remember?"
My jaw tightened. "I don't recall asking either of you to stand here and breathe near me."
Ethan chuckled. "You've got some nerve. You think I still respect you after that drama last night? Please. You were always too uptight, Serena. Maybe if you'd loosened up a little—"
"Like you loosened your pants for my colleague?" I snapped.
The nearby cubicles went quiet.
Jessica's face flushed red, but she quickly plastered on a smug smile. "Touchy, aren't we? You should be grateful, really. I did you a favor by showing you what kind of man he truly is."
Ethan smirked, slinging an arm around her. "You should've learned to satisfy a man, Serena. That's your real problem. Always pretending to be perfect but—"
"Enough," I said sharply, shooting to my feet. My voice didn't tremble, though my heart raced. "I'm done listening to trash. If you want to continue embarrassing yourselves, do it somewhere else."
Jessica scoffed. "Still pretending you're better than everyone? You're nothing, Serena. Just a pathetic, unwanted woman."
Maya stormed over before I could respond. "Jessica, don't you have work to do? Or are you still living off this scum's incompetence?"
Jessica's eyes narrowed, but before she could speak, the HR director's voice rang out from the hallway.
"Everyone, gather in the conference room. The new CEO will be arriving shortly."
Ethan whispered something into Jessica's ear that made her giggle as they walked off. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.
"Ignore them," Maya said quietly. "Karma always finds people like that."
I nodded stiffly, though I wasn't sure I believed it.
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The conference room filled with chatter as employees took their seats. The tension was thick—a mix of fear, curiosity, and hope. I sat somewhere near the middle, pretending to focus on the presentation folder in front of me.
All I wanted was a quiet day. No drama, no exes and no reminders of last night.
Then the door opened. And my blood froze.
He walked in, tall, composed and his suit perfectly tailored. His dark eyes scanned the room with quiet authority before locking on me.
It was him. He was the man from last night.
For a second, everything stopped. My breath hitched, my heart pounded so hard I thought everyone could hear it.
He didn't flinch neither did he look surprised. In fact, the corner of his mouth curved ever so slightly, like he was enjoying my panic.
Ethan leaned toward Jessica and whispered, "Guessing he's our new boss."
Jessica giggled. "Maybe he'll fire her first."
I couldn't move nor could I even blink.
The man's voice filled the room, smooth and commanding. "Good morning. I'm Alexander Blackwood, your new CEO."
The room erupted with polite greetings, but I barely heard them.
Alexander, the name rolled smoothly off my tongue. So that was his name.
He spoke about growth, restructuring, and expectations, but every word felt heavy and deliberate. And each time his gaze flicked toward me, my heart skipped a beat.
When the meeting ended, he dismissed everyone with a curt nod. People began to file out, whispering about how intimidating he was.
But then, his commanding voice came again.
"Miss Serena, stay back for a moment."
Dozens of heads turned toward me.
Ethan snorted quietly. "You're in trouble already? As expected."
I ignored him, even though my stomach twisted.
As the last person left the room, Alexander turned to face me, hands in his pockets, eyes glinting with quiet amusement.
"Looks like we meet again," he said softly.
My pulse stuttered.
Oh no. He remembered me.
I was definitely, completely, hopelessly screwed.