CEO's Relentless Desire

A soft hum of city traffic drifted through the half-cracked hotel window. The scent of expensive cologne, mixed with a faint trace of musk and silk, clung to the air.

Aurora blinked against the sunlight. Her body ached in unfamiliar places, her head throbbed, and her mouth tasted like regret.

She sat up slowly, disoriented. The sheets slipped from her bare shoulder.

Wait.

She wasn't in her bed.

She wasn't even in her apartment.

The room was too clean. Too polished. Cream walls, glass desk, a wine bottle tipped on its side-half-empty. Her dress-her favorite black satin one-was lying in a wrinkled heap on the floor.

Her heels were across the room. One on its side. One in the bathroom.

Panic punched through her chest.

She turned her head-and saw him.

A man lay in the king-sized bed. Half-covered. Broad shoulders, sculpted chest, the hint of a tattoo curling over his ribcage. His jaw was sharp, lips parted slightly in sleep, dark hair tousled. He looked like a sculpture come to life.

And Aurora didn't recognize him.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

She grabbed the sheet, clutching it to her chest as she scrambled out of the bed. Her legs wobbled, the ache between her thighs telling her exactly what had happened-without any memory to confirm it.

The man stirred but didn't wake.

She spotted her phone on the nightstand. No calls. No texts. Just one message from Chloe: You okay? Haven't heard from you.

Aurora couldn't even remember leaving the gala.

She fumbled for her clutch, shoved on one heel, then the other. Her bra was missing. Her earrings were in the sink.

Get out. Just get out.

She didn't stop to look back.

Aurora didn't breathe until she was in the back of a cab. Her fingers trembled as she adjusted the seatbelt. Her reflection in the rearview mirror was all smudged lipstick, tangled curls, and wild eyes.

Last night was a blur. Champagne. Laughter. A flash of emerald eyes, maybe. A deep voice whispering close.

But nothing more.

"Where to, miss?" the driver asked.

"Downtown. Eldridge and 5th."

As the car moved, she pressed her forehead to the window. Her thoughts raced.

What if he was someone important? What if she'd ruined her reputation?

Worse-what if she wanted to remember him?

She was almost home when her phone buzzed again.

Chloe: You disappeared. I had to leave with Ian. Did you meet someone?

Aurora stared at the screen, fingers hovering.

Did she?

The office buzzed with usual Monday chaos. Phones rang. Laptops clicked. Coffee brewed. Aurora stepped inside, dressed immaculately-too perfect, almost like armor.

She nodded to the receptionist and headed toward the elevators.

Her boss, Mr. Langford, had called for an emergency strategy meeting. All department heads were expected. Aurora was nervous, but she had no time to panic.

She took a deep breath as she stepped into the boardroom-and froze.

He was there.

The stranger from the hotel.

Dressed in a custom navy suit, tie slightly loosened, Sebastian Hayes was seated at the head of the table, flipping through a sleek presentation folder. His eyes lifted when she walked in.

Emerald green.

Her heart stuttered.

Their gazes locked.

Something unreadable passed over his face.

"Miss Lane," Langford said, gesturing toward a seat. "Meet the new owner of the company."

Owner?

Aurora couldn't move.

Sebastian smiled. Slightly. Coolly. As if he didn't recognize her at all.

But she knew he did.

He didn't speak to her the entire meeting.

Not a word.

But his eyes followed her. Calculated. Curious.

When it ended, Langford pulled her aside. "Sebastian Hayes wants you to lead the Baxter rebranding project. Starting today."

"Me?" Her voice wavered. "Why?"

"He says you're the only one he trusts."

That wasn't comforting. That was alarming.

Back at her desk, she tried to focus. Notes. Emails. Budgets. Anything but him.

An alert popped up.

Meeting Invite: Private Strategy Session

Host: Sebastian Hayes

Location: 47th Floor. His office.

Time: Now.

Aurora started. Then stood.

As she reached the top floor, a secretary ushered her in. The door clicked shut behind her.

Sebastian stood by the window. Tall. Imposing. Unreadable.

"You remember," she said flatly.

His lips twitched. "Of course."

She crossed her arms. "Why the act?"

He turned, slowly. "Because I wanted to see what you'd do."

Aurora's breath caught.

"You shouldn't have left," he said.

"You shouldn't have followed me here."

He took a step forward. "But I did."

The tension thickened.

"What do you want, Sebastian?"

His smile deepened, wicked and slow.

"You."

"I don't mix business with personal," she said.

Sebastian leaned against the edge of his desk. "Then let's make it business."

"I'm listening."

"A month. You work on the Baxter project. You'll answer directly to me. And we finish what we started."

"I didn't start anything."

His gaze dropped to her lips. "You ran from it."

She turned away. "This is ridiculous."

"I don't do second chances, Aurora. But you woke something up in me. Now I want more."

Her pulse quickened.

"And when the month's over?"

He smiled. "We will renegotiate."

Their days became warzones of words and glances.

Their nights were silent. For now.

Aurora kept things professional, but he kept pushing-testing her patience, challenging her choices.

He moved closer during briefings. Sat beside her at dinners. His presence was a storm she couldn't escape.

Late one night, she found him in the elevator.

"You're avoiding me," he said.

"I'm surviving you."

He laughed. Low. Dangerous.

Then he stepped forward, brushing her wrist.

"You'll give in, Aurora. Sooner or later."

Word spread quickly.

People whispered. About her. About him.

Vanessa, the firm's head of PR and Sebastian's rumored ex, cornered Aurora in the restroom.

"You're just a phase," she sneered.

Aurora met her gaze evenly. "So were you."

Vanessa's smile faltered.

Back at her desk, Aurora found a gift box.

Inside-her missing earring from that night.

No note.

Just a message typed in her inbox: You left something behind.

Her hand trembled.

The next event was a formal fundraiser.

Aurora dressed in crimson silk.

Sebastian watched her all night. Every move. Every smile.

He cornered her on the balcony.

"You're playing a dangerous game," she said.

He stepped closer. "Then let's both lose."

His mouth was on hers before she could speak. Heat exploded through her.

She kissed him back.

Then pushed him away.

"Not yet," she whispered.

"Soon," he promised.

Aurora arrived at work to find her files wiped.

All project data-gone.

She confronted IT. No answers.

Then she received a warning email: Stay away from Hayes, or lose everything.

She forwarded it to Sebastian.

He called her instantly.

"Come to my office. Now."

When she arrived, Vanessa was already there.

"I told you," Aurora said. "She's behind this."

Vanessa smiled. "Prove it."

Sebastian's jaw clenched.

"I will," Aurora said.

That night, Aurora met Chloe.

"I'm in too deep," Aurora said. "But I can't walk away."

Chloe frowned. "Are you falling for him?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

Just then, Aurora's phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: You have 48 hours. Or the next file I erase is your future.

She showed Chloe the screen.

And outside, under the shadow of the streetlamp, someone was watching.

Waiting.