Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Ambush
By 8:45 AM, I was seated at my desk outside Cameron’s sprawling corner office on the forty-fifth floor of Reed Global Tower. I had managed to shower, put on a sharp charcoal pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse, and apply enough concealer to hide the fact that I had slept for barely three hours.
The office was humming with its usual frantic Monday-morning energy. Junior analysts rushed past with stacks of financial reports, phones chimed softly, and the espresso machine in the breakroom worked overtime.
At exactly 8:58 AM, the private elevator chimed.
Cameron stepped out.
He was completely transformed. The disheveled, broken man from last night was gone, replaced by the pristine, untouchable CEO. Dressed in a bespoke charcoal-gray Tom Ford suit, a midnight-blue silk tie, and silver cufflinks, he looked like a god walking among mortals. His dark hair was immaculately styled, his stride purposeful and lethal.
He didn't look at me as he strode past my desk.
“Good morning, Mr. Reed,” I said crisply, tablet in hand. “At 10:00 AM you have the quarterly earnings review with the shareholders. At 1:00 PM, a lunch meeting with the acquisitions director. And at 4:00 PM, legal wants to sign off on the European expansion contracts.”
Cameron stopped at the heavy oak doors of his office. He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto mine. There was no warmth in his eyes, but there was an intense, magnetic focus that made my breath hitch.
“Cancel the acquisitions lunch,” he commanded quietly.
I blinked, checking my schedule. “Mr. Reed, Mr. Sterling flew in from London specifically for that meeting. If we cancel—”
“Reschedule it,” he interrupted, his voice dropping into that smooth, non-negotiable register. “And bring the Q3 financial projections into my office in ten minutes. We need to revise our strategy.”
Before I could argue, he slipped inside his office, the heavy door clicking shut behind him.
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. Back to business. Exactly how it should be.
Ten minutes later, I knocked twice and pushed open the door to his office, holding a thick leather folder.
“Here are the projections, Mr. Reed,” I said, walking toward his massive mahogany desk.
Cameron wasn't sitting in his ergonomic leather chair. He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, looking out over the sprawling vista of Manhattan. He didn't turn around immediately.
“Put them down, Emma,” he murmured.
I placed the folder neatly on the corner of his desk. When he didn't turn, I hesitated. “Is there anything else you need?”
Slowly, Cameron turned around. The cold corporate mask had slipped, just a fraction, revealing the storm brewing underneath.
“Who is Julian Vance?” he asked abruptly.
The question hit me like a physical blow. My blood ran cold.
Julian Vance was the senior partner at Vance & Sterling Law, our firm’s primary corporate legal counsel—and a man who had asked me out for drinks three times in the past month.
“He’s our lead counsel for the European expansion,” I answered carefully, keeping my voice neutral. “Why?”
Cameron pushed away from the window, walking slowly toward me across the plush Persian rug. The sheer physical presence of the man filled the room, crowding out the air.
“He called my private line at 7:30 this morning,” Cameron said, his voice dangerously low. “Under the guise of ‘legal logistics.’ But he spent the first two minutes asking me if you were single.”
My jaw dropped. “Julian did what?”
“He asked if my lead executive assistant was seeing anyone,” Cameron continued, closing the distance between us until he was standing just inches away. His gray eyes burned into mine. “He wanted to know if he could take you to dinner.”
I stared at him, bewildered. “That is completely unprofessional. And frankly, none of your business.”
“None of my business?” Cameron repeated, a dark, dangerous edge entering his tone. He stepped closer, invading my personal space entirely. “Emma, you spent last night in my apartment, holding me together while my life collapsed. You think I’m going to stand by and watch some corporate shark circle you in my own building?”
My heart hammered against my ribs, a chaotic mix of terror and electric thrill.
“You said last night was a mistake!” I shot back, my voice trembling slightly. “You said it was a lapse in judgment!”
“I lied,” Cameron growled softly, lifting one hand to gently trace the edge of my jawline with his thumb. His touch sent a violent shiver straight down my spine. “Standing here watching another man look at you made me realize just how fragile my control really is.”
Before I could answer, the office door flew wide open.
“Cameron, we have a major problem with the—oh.”
May you like
Standing in the doorway, clutching a stack of legal briefs, was Julian Vance himself. His eyes darted from Cameron’s hand resting against my cheek to my flushed, breathless face.
The silence in the room became absolute, lethal, and explosive.
