A sharp throb pulsed behind Lila's temples the moment she opened her eyes.
For a second, she didn't move. She simply lay there, breathing shallowly, waiting for the room to stop spinning.
But the stillness felt… wrong.
This wasn't her ceiling.
Her lashes fluttered upward fully, and her heart lurched.
The room was spacious, elegant, and far too expensive-looking — dark marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows draped in silver curtains, a faint scent of cologne lingering in the air.
Her pulse quickened.
This is not my room.
She bolted upright, panic washing over her — and that's when she saw it.
A silhouette beside her.
A man.
Broad shoulders. Defined back muscles stretching under the sheets. Tousled dark hair that fell across the pillow. He lay half-turned away from her, utterly still, as if the world couldn't shake him awake.
Lila's breath caught painfully in her throat.
Her mind scrambled.
Flashes from last night came in broken, confusing fragments — the club lights, the heat of bodies dancing, the taste of liquor on her tongue, the stranger's arm around her waist, the kiss that stole her breath… then the hotel hallway… the door closing behind them…
Her blood turned cold.
Oh my God.
"Oh my God." she whispered aloud, her voice trembling. "I—I slept with a stranger."
She clasped a hand over her mouth, mortified.
The man shifted slightly, and she froze like a startled animal.
If he turned around… if he woke up…
No. She couldn't face him.
She wasn't ready. She wasn't even sure what she'd done.
Moving slowly — painfully slowly — she slipped out of the bed. Her legs wobbled when her feet touched the cold floor, but she forced herself to grab her purse from a nearby chair.
Not once did she dare look at his face.
Within seconds, she was out the door, heart racing as if she were running from a crime scene.
---
"Where the hell have you been?"
Sophie's voice cracked like thunder the moment Lila burst into their apartment.
Lila didn't stop walking.
"Consider yourself dead when I get back," she muttered, clutching her pounding head as she brushed past her friend.
Sophie blinked, confused. "What?"
But Lila was already in her room, stripping off her clothes and diving straight into the shower.
Under the spray of warm water, her panic returned full force.
What did I do?
Who was he?
Why can't I remember his face clearly?
Her stomach twisted. She scrubbed her skin as if she could wash away the memory.
By the time she finished dressing, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door, she was nearly late.
"Sophie, I'll explain later!" she called out.
"Just—be safe!" Sophie answered, still bewildered but relieved her friend was alive.
Vaughn Group — 8:00 a.m.
The building towered above her like a glass giant. Sunlight glinted off its polished exterior, and the revolving doors alone looked wealthier than her entire apartment.
Lila swallowed hard before walking in.
Inside, everything gleamed — marble floors, gold accents, and employees dressed in crisp, tailored clothing. Lila instinctively straightened her blouse.
"Good morning," she greeted the receptionist.
The woman's eyes flicked over her like she was scanning a barcode. "How may I help you?"
"I'm Li—"
"Lila Hart?" a cool voice called.
Lila turned. A sharp-featured woman approached — tall, confident, and dressed in immaculate business attire.
"Yes, ma'am," Lila replied quickly.
"I'm Wynn, head of the secretary department. Come with me."
Wynn didn't wait. Lila practically jogged after her down the hallway.
They completed paperwork in HR before Wynn continued the orientation with the same cold efficiency.
"The previous secretary made a mistake that cost us money," Wynn explained without emotion. "The CEO fired her himself. I suggest you don't follow in her footsteps."
Lila nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
Wynn pointed to a desk at the far end of the open office — organized, neat, and tucked between two shelves.
"That's your workspace.
The office at the end belongs to the CEO.
Do not enter unless he asks for you."
"I understand."
"There are files on your desk. Study them. You have until next week to adapt."
Wynn turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Lila standing there with a mixture of relief and dread.
The soft ding of the elevator made every secretary straighten like soldiers.
Even Lila felt the shift in atmosphere — a sudden stiffness, like the air itself held its breath.
Then he appeared.
Damien Vaughn.
Tall. Composed. A face carved with elegant sharpness. Dark hair brushed back smoothly. A presence so commanding the hallway felt too small to contain him.
He walked with a calm authority that made people instinctively move aside.
"Got a new secretary already?" he asked his assistant.
"Yes, sir. She started this morning."
He made a noncommittal sound.
The secretaries bowed slightly. "Good morning, sir."
Damien barely glanced at them.
"Are the documents ready?" he asked Wynn.
"Yes, sir. I'll send them to you right away."
He nodded once. "And make sure the new girl is worth keeping."
Then he disappeared into his office.
The moment the door closed, the whispering began.
"He's so handsome."
"Have you seen his jawline?"
"I would risk my life for one smile."
"Cold, arrogant, and perfect."
Wynn glared at them. "Get back to work."
---
Inside the CEO's Office
Damien leaned back in his leather chair, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
His expression wasn't calm — it was simmering.
"Have you found out who drugged me last night?" he asked his assistant.
"No, sir. But we suspect one of the women who attended the event."
"And the girl I slept with?" His jaw tightened.
"No identification yet. The CCTV didn't catch her face."
Damien's eyes darkened dangerously. "You're becoming more useless by the day."
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Get out."
The assistant turned to leave, but Damien's voice stopped him.
"Wait. Tell the new girl to bring my coffee."
---
The Coffee Run
Lila was quietly studying a stack of documents when Wynn appeared in front of her desk.
"The CEO wants you to bring him his coffee," Wynn said sharply.
"Me?" Lila blinked. "But I just started—"
"No questions. Go."
Wynn walked away before Lila could protest.
Lila's hands trembled as she prepared the coffee.
She wasn't ready for this.
Not on her first day.
Not when she was still mentally replaying the disaster of last night.
Why me?
Why already?
She took a steadying breath and knocked on the CEO's door.
"Come in."
The voice seeped through the wood — low, deep, and commanding.
Lila stepped inside, keeping her eyes lowered.
"Your coffee, sir," she said, gently setting it on his desk.
"Leave it there," he replied, still writing.
She turned to go — relieved — when he finally lifted his gaze.
His pen stilled.
His eyes locked with hers.
The same eyes from last night.
The same presence.
The same man.
Lila's breath vanished.
Damien's brows furrowed slightly — not in anger, but in recognition.
Complete, absolute recognition.
The room fell into a heavy silence as both of them stood frozen, their worlds colliding in an instant.
She was the girl he'd been searching for.
And he was the stranger she thought she'd escaped.