One Night Mistake: The CEO's Trap

The penthouse door clicked shut, locking the two of them in the dim hallway. Eleanor leaned back against the cool, dark wood, her breath coming in ragged, heated gasps.

Cruz's large, searing hands gripped her waist, pulling her hips firmly against him. The hard evidence of his arousal pressed against her, making her gasp. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on his skin, and the faint scent of cedar and alcohol enveloped her.

"You shouldn't be doing this," Eleanor whispered, her fingers trembling slightly as she traced his strong jawline. Her back pressed tight against the cold, dark wood of the doorframe. Her breathing grew increasingly rapid.

She knew exactly who he was-the older brother of her best friend, Jaye.

"Then tell me to stop," Cruz murmured, his low, husky voice vibrating against her collarbone. His large, warm hands slid down to grip her waist, pulling her hips closer.

He leaned in close to her neck, planting a wet, passionate kiss there. His touch, charged with desire, made her catch her breath.

Eleanor sensed danger in Cruz, but the alcohol had loosened her inhibitions, and the pressure of her stifling life had finally caused her to snap.

Her mother had controlled her every move since childhood-even deciding whom she would marry. But tonight... Eleanor wanted to make her own choices.

Eleanor closed her eyes and leaned into the heat radiating from him. She threaded her fingers through his dark hair, pulling him closer. "Don't stop."

A raw, burning desire ignited in Cruz's eyes. "Then tonight, you're mine," he growled, claiming her lips in a kiss that was both commanding and sweet, sweeping away every shred of her reason.

The heavy exhaustion following a wild night finally lulled Eleanor into a deep sleep. Hours later, as she slowly stirred awake, the first things she noticed were not her surroundings, but a dull ache in her lower back and a lingering soreness in her inner thighs.

She let out a soft moan and shifted her legs. The sheets wrapped around her bare skin weren't the cheap cotton she usually used, but thick, cool silk.

Her eyes snapped open. High, matte-white ceilings met her gaze. As consciousness returned, vivid memories of the previous night came flooding back-the searing heat, the urgent caresses, and the way she had practically begged for more.

Propping herself up on her elbows, she realized she was naked. A wave of panic and regret washed over her. *Oh God... what have I done?* She had willingly-even eagerly-slept with Jay's older brother.

It had been a time of exquisite pleasure, yet now, in the cold light of day, she felt a pang of remorse. How could she ever face Jay again?

She turned her head. Cruz lay fast asleep on his stomach beside her, his broad, bronzed back fully exposed; the muscles rippled and stretched with his steady breathing.

She had to leave before he woke up. Facing him now would be far too mortifying.

Eleanor quietly slid out of bed, her bare feet sinking into the plush, thick carpet. As she stood up, Cruz stirred on the bed. His deep, sleep-heavy voice murmured indistinctly into the pillow: "Darling... you're so soft..."

A flush of heat instantly rose to her cheeks. Eleanor froze, her heart pounding wildly.

As his breathing evened out again, she glanced around anxiously and spotted her black cocktail dress, crumpled in a heap beside the leather armchair. As she struggled to disentangle her lace lingerie from the shirt he had discarded, a burning flush rose to her cheeks.

She slipped into her gown, her fingers trembling as she pulled up the zipper. Picking up her handbag from the chair and confirming her phone and keys were inside, she clutched her high heels and tiptoed toward the door.

As her hand touched the doorknob, she couldn't help but glance back. The morning light illuminated his handsome, aristocratic features; he looked serene-a stark contrast to the wild man of the night before.

Afraid to look back again, she hurriedly turned the handle and slipped into the living room, then practically fled into the private elevator.

Cruz rarely rose later than seven in the morning. Whether in business or his personal life, he strictly adhered to his own code of conduct, prioritizing order and control above all else.

Yet, when he woke this morning, the sun was already high in the sky.

The space beside him was empty. He reached out, his knuckles brushing against the rumpled silk sheets. He opened his eyes, adjusting to the brilliant light pouring through the window.

Sunlight fell directly onto a heap of clothes scattered across the floor-his tie, a crumpled shirt. They were the remnants of the wild passion they had shared the night before.

He stretched slowly, feeling an unfamiliar ache in his shoulders and lower back. As he moved, his hand grazed his ribs, where he felt a faint, pale scratch mark.

He traced the mark gently with his thumb, and memories of the previous night came flooding back vividly. Eleanor. She had always been Jaye's quiet, well-behaved best friend. But last night, clad in a black spaghetti-strap slip dress with her cheeks flushed from a light buzz, she had looked breathtakingly beautiful.

She had stumbled in the hallway, and he had caught her just in time. Her soft breasts pressed against his chest; that sudden physical contact instantly ignited an uncontrollable fire of desire. She looked up, her moist, captivating brown eyes gazing into his, causing his self-control to crumble completely.

A faint, satisfied smile played on his lips.

He threw back the covers and swung his legs out of bed. As he walked toward the bathroom, his bare feet brushed against a small, hard object on the carpet.

Frowning, Cruz crouched down. It was an exquisite diamond ring set in vintage-style platinum. He picked it up, turning it gently between his fingertips. She must have left in such a rush that she'd forgotten her jewelry.

He gripped it tightly, the cool metal touching his skin. A faint smile played on his lips; he had been wondering how to get in touch with her again, and now she had given him the perfect excuse.

Before he could examine it closely, the door to the penthouse swung open.

"Cruz! Time to get up!"

His sister, Jay, strode into the living area. Cruz walked out, pulling on a pair of dark sweatpants, and leaned casually against the kitchen counter. "I'm up. What are you doing here so early?"

"I'm looking for Ellie," Jay said, frowning. "Did you see her leave?"

Cruz kept his expression neutral, betraying nothing. "No. Why?"

"She wasn't feeling well last night, so I put her up in the guest room near yours. I just went to check on her and found the bed hadn't even been slept in. She's completely vanished."

Cruz shoved his hands into his pockets, his thumb rubbing against the cold metal ring. He didn't want to tell Jay the truth. His sister couldn't keep a secret to save her life; if he told her, the whole family would know by noon. He wasn't ready for that yet.

"She probably just got up early and went home," Cruz lied without missing a beat. "She looked pretty worn out last night."

"I'm really worried about her. Let me know if you hear anything? I'll send her another text," Jay said with a sigh.

"I'll keep an eye out," Cruz replied smoothly. He watched his sister leave, his fingertips still resting on the ring in his pocket. Eleanor. Kanai.

On the other side, Eleanor, who was already in an Uber heading back to her apartment, was not nearly so cheerful. She stared gloomily out the window, recalling that the previous night had seemed like a vague dream.

As soon as Eleanor closed her front door, she leaned back against the wood and let out a long breath, her body trembling slightly.

She kicked off her high heels, slipped out of her cocktail dress, and stepped into the cramped bathroom, turning the shower handle to hot. Standing under the spray, she scrubbed her skin vigorously, trying to wash away the day's exhaustion.

However, as steam fogged up the mirror, she wiped it away and caught a glimpse of her reflection. Faint red marks dotted her collarbone and neck.

A wave of intense, burning embarrassment rushed to her cheeks. Recalling the heat of his breath against her skin and the feel of his commanding hands made her toes curl even now. The moment itself had been exquisite, but the aftermath left her feeling overwhelmed.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and her eyes widened. *Wait... did we use a condom?*

She racked her brain, replaying their frenzied encounter by the door and the moments that followed on the bed. *No.* There hadn't been a single pause. Panic surged within her.

She hurriedly turned off the water, wrapped herself in a towel, and walked into the bedroom. *That pill... I need to take the morning-after pill right now.*

Just then, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. The screen lit up: a message from JAYE-BFF.

JAYE-BFF: Ellie, where are you? I'm worried! Call me back!

Eleanor stared at the screen, a deep sense of awkwardness rising in her chest. There was no way she could tell Jaye that she'd slept with her brother. It was just too mortifying.

She sat on the edge of the bed and quickly typed a reply: "Oh, I'm so sorry! I woke up with a splitting headache, so I left in a rush-didn't want to wake anyone up. I'm resting in bed now. Let's chat later? Bye."

Jay immediately sent back a string of concerned emojis, urging her to get some rest.

Eleanor tossed her phone aside, walked over to the full-length mirror, and touched the red marks on her neck. She had to stay home today. She couldn't let anyone see those marks-especially her mother, that uninvited guest who always loved to drop by without warning.

Just as she was pulling a high-necked hoodie over her damp hair, her phone chimed again. It was a text from Naomi Price, the stern Marketing Director at the Estes Group.

"Eleanor, the VP just pushed the Q3 forecast meeting to tomorrow morning. I need the finalized copies of those reports on my desk by 2:00 PM today. No exceptions. See you at the office."

Eleanor stared at the screen, her heart sinking. As a junior analyst, she had no choice but to comply. She sighed and changed into a pair of professional trousers and a silk blouse that covered her neck.

Her plan was to stop at the pharmacy for medication, quickly print the reports at the office, and then head straight home-pretending last night had never happened.