One Night Stand With The CEO

Chapter One: A Night to Forget

Isabella

I always thought my life was on the right track. Hard work, long hours, and a spotless reputation-it was supposed to mean something. But all it took was one entitled man's bruised ego to rip it all away.

"Ms. Reed, I'm afraid we have to let you go."

The words echoed in my head even as I downed my third whiskey at the dimly lit bar. The ice clinked against the glass, drowning beneath the burn of alcohol sliding down my throat. Fired. Just like that. Because I said no to the boss's spoiled, arrogant son.

I clenched my jaw, gripping my glass tighter. I should have known better than to trust that my hard work was enough. That being good at my job meant something in a world where power and connections ruled.

Mia sighed from across the small round table, stirring her cocktail absentmindedly. "You should have punched him in the face. I would've."

A small, humorless laugh escaped me. "Tempting. But I didn't want to give them another reason to blacklist me."

Not that it mattered. Getting fired in disgrace from Westford & Co. meant doors were already slamming shut before I even knocked.

Mia leaned forward, her dark eyes flickering with mischief. "You know what you need?"

I raised an eyebrow. "A new job? A million dollars?"

"Nope." She grinned. "A distraction. A one-night-only, no-strings-attached distraction."

I scoffed. "You mean sex."

"Exactly." She lifted her glass in a mock toast. "It's the universal cure for heartbreak, disappointment, and assholes with power complexes."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't deny that a tiny part of me considered it.

For once in my life, I had no plans, no stability, nothing to lose. Maybe Mia was right. Maybe just for tonight, I didn't have to be responsible Isabella Reed.

Maybe I could just... let go.

As if on cue, my gaze flickered toward the bar-and that's when I saw him.

A man who looked like sin itself.

He sat alone, a glass of whiskey in one hand, long fingers absently tracing the rim. Sharp cheekbones, a strong jawline, and piercing storm-gray eyes that met mine with an intensity that sent heat curling through my spine.

His tailored black suit hinted at wealth and power, but it was the way he carried himself-commanding, unapologetically confident-that made it impossible to look away.

Mia followed my gaze and let out a low whistle. "Well, damn. If you don't take that as a sign, I'll have to question your judgment."

I bit my lip.

For the first time in a long time, I ignored reason.

I took my glass and stood.

Adrian

I noticed her the second she walked in.

Long, wavy dark hair, striking emerald eyes, and a red dress that hugged her curves just right. She carried herself with a quiet confidence, but there was something else-something in the way she clutched her drink, the slight tension in her shoulders.

A woman trying to drown something out.

I could relate.

I wasn't here for company. I had enough of that in boardrooms and corporate dinners. But when she moved toward me, all slow steps and curiosity, I didn't look away.

She stopped at my side, setting her glass down on the bar. "You look like you could use another drink."

I smirked. "And you look like you could use a distraction."

A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "Maybe."

The bartender approached, and I nodded at her glass. "Another?"

She hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Why not?"

A woman who thought before she acted. Interesting.

The bartender refilled her glass, and she picked it up, swirling the amber liquid before taking a sip.

"What's your name?" she asked.

I studied her for a moment.

Names meant attachments. And attachments led to expectations.

"No names," I said smoothly.

Her lips curled slightly. "No names?"

"One night," I said simply. "No strings."

I expected hesitation. Maybe a polite decline.

Instead, she tipped her head, her eyes flashing with something unreadable.

"All right, mystery man." She set her glass down, stepping closer. "Let's get out of here."

At The Hotel Suite

We barely made it inside before our lips crashed together.

She tasted like whiskey and something dangerously addictive.

Her fingers tangled in my hair as I pushed her against the wall, the heat between us undeniable.

For tonight, there was no past. No responsibilities.

Just two strangers lost in a moment.

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself forget.

The Morning After

The sunlight was merciless.

I blinked against the harsh morning rays spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel suite.

The bed beside me was empty.

For a moment, I almost thought she was just a dream. But the faint scent of vanilla lingered in the sheets, and a single note rested on the nightstand.

No regrets. No goodbyes.

No name.

I smirked to myself, brushing a hand through my hair.

A woman who knew how to walk away.

Interesting.

Isabella

I stepped out of the cab, clutching my resume with slightly sweaty hands.

After weeks of job hunting and rejections, I finally had a promising interview.

Sinclair Enterprises.

One of the biggest corporate empires in New York. If I got this job, it could change everything.

I took a steadying breath, smoothing down my navy blazer as I stepped into the gleaming skyscraper.

The receptionist greeted me with a polished smile. "Ms. Reed?"

"Yes."

"The CEO will see you now."

I nodded, my heart pounding as I followed her down the hallway.

A second chance. A fresh start. That's what this was.

The receptionist opened the door to a grand office with floor-to-ceiling windows.

And then I saw him.

The man from that night.

Sitting behind the CEO's desk.

My stomach dropped.

Storm-gray eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unreadable.

For a long moment, the world stood still.

Then his lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk.

"Well," he murmured. "Isn't this interesting?"

The CEO's Proposition

Isabella

The air in the lavish office seemed to thin as I stared at the man sitting behind the massive glass desk.

No. No, no, no.

This couldn't be happening.

The same man I had spent a reckless, passionate night with-the one whose name I never even asked-was sitting before me, exuding power and confidence in a tailored suit that did nothing to mask the sharp, lethal attraction still lingering between us.

But that wasn't the worst part.

He wasn't just some executive or senior manager at Sinclair Enterprises.

He was the CEO.

My potential employer.

I swallowed hard, gripping the resume folder in my hands like a lifeline. Get it together, Isabella.

The man-the CEO-studied me with those storm-gray eyes, his expression unreadable.

"Miss Reed," he finally said, leaning back in his chair, one hand drumming lazily against the desk. "What a surprise."

Surprise? That was putting it mildly.

I forced a polite smile, willing my face to remain neutral even as panic clawed at my chest. "Mr...." My voice faltered, realization dawning like a slap to the face.

I didn't even know his last name.

His smirk deepened, as if he could read my mind. "Sinclair," he supplied smoothly. "Adrian Sinclair."

Adrian. Of course, he has a name. A name I should have known before tumbling into bed with him.

I clenched my jaw, nodding stiffly. "Mr. Sinclair."

His lips twitched. "Ah, so now we're using last names?"

I ignored the heat rushing to my cheeks and tightened my grip on my folder. Professional. Stay professional.

The receptionist excused herself, closing the door behind her, leaving us alone in deafening silence.

Adrian stood slowly, adjusting his cufflinks. "So, tell me, Miss Reed. What brings you to Sinclair Enterprises?"

My throat was dry, but I refused to falter. "I applied for a position in the corporate strategy department. I wasn't aware that you-" I hesitated, feeling the weight of his stare. "That you owned the company."

His smirk remained. "Would it have made a difference?"

Yes. A huge difference.

But I couldn't afford to walk away. This job was my lifeline after losing everything at Westford & Co.

So, I straightened my shoulders and met his gaze head-on. "No."

His eyes darkened, as if my defiance intrigued him. "Good. Then let's begin your interview."

Interview. Right. That's why I was here.

I exhaled slowly, pushing away the chaotic thoughts and forcing myself to focus. I had worked too hard to let one unexpected moment ruin this opportunity.

Adrian gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. "Sit."

I did, crossing my legs as professionally as possible, despite the heat still lingering between us from that night.

He picked up my resume, flipping through it with an air of casual disinterest. "Your resume is impressive. Top of your class. Five years at Westford & Co. Rapid promotions."

His gaze flickered up to meet mine. "And yet, you left rather suddenly. Why?"

The question hit like a blade, and I barely kept my expression neutral.

I knew this would come up. But I wasn't about to spill my humiliating story.

"I had a difference in values with the leadership team," I said carefully.

Adrian's gaze didn't waver. "A difference in values?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "So, you didn't sleep with the wrong man, get caught up in a scandal, or commit corporate espionage?"

My spine stiffened. "No."

There was a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. And then, to my shock, he smirked.

"Good," he murmured. "I'd hate to think you had a habit of making reckless decisions."

Was he talking about us?

I kept my expression composed. "I don't."

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before flickering back up. "Glad to hear it."

The room was too small. The air too thick. Every time he spoke, I could hear his voice from that night-rough, low, dangerous.

I needed to regain control.

"Mr. Sinclair," I said, keeping my tone professional. "Are you actually considering me for this role, or is this-"

"Personal?" he finished smoothly.

I didn't answer, but my silence spoke volumes.

Adrian stood, rounding the desk until he was right in front of me.

Adrian

She was a storm wrapped in silk.

I had noticed her the second she walked into the office. The same way I had noticed her that night in the bar.

But this was different. The woman who had left my bed without so much as a goodbye now sat in front of me, acting like she wasn't affected. Like she didn't remember the way she moaned my name.

And damn, I found it amusing.

"You're more than qualified for the position," I said, watching her closely. "But let's be honest. Can you really work under me?"

Her green eyes flared, and a part of me enjoyed the flicker of fire behind them.

"I don't see why not," she replied evenly.

Bold. I liked that.

"Would it bother you?" I asked, stepping closer, lowering my voice.

She didn't move back. "Should it?"

Amusement curled through me.

This woman.

Instead of answering, I leaned down slightly, just enough to make her breath hitch. "Would it bother you," I murmured, "if I said I remember every detail from that night?"

Her fingers tightened around the folder in her lap, but her expression remained neutral.

"That was just one night," she said quietly. "It doesn't mean anything now."

I tilted my head, studying her. "Doesn't it?"

She held my gaze, her back straight. "No, Mr. Sinclair. It doesn't."

Something about the way she said my name sent a thrill down my spine.

I stepped back, giving her space. "Alright, Miss Reed. You're hired."

She blinked, clearly thrown off. "Just like that?"

I smirked. "I reward talent."

A pause.

"That's all this is?" she asked carefully.

I chuckled. "For now."

Isabella

I had no idea what I had just gotten myself into.

I should have walked away the moment I saw Adrian Sinclair behind that desk. I should have thanked him for his time and left.

But I didn't.

Because I needed this job.

Because something about his challenge, his presence, made me want to prove I could handle it.

Handle him.

So I took a deep breath and stood, extending my hand. "Then I look forward to working with you, Mr. Sinclair."

His grip was firm, warm, and too familiar.

"Likewise," he murmured.

And just like that, I sealed my fate.

The Unspoken Agreement

Isabella

I should have walked out of his office the moment he uttered the words, You're hired.

But I didn't.

Instead, I shook his hand, feigning a confidence I wasn't sure I actually possessed. The warmth of his skin against mine was unnerving, sending an unwelcome jolt through my body. I fought to keep my expression neutral, but for a brief second, I was transported back to that night-to the way his hands had gripped my hips, the way his mouth had claimed mine like a man possessed.

A shiver ghosted down my spine, but I forced myself to breathe, to push those thoughts aside. This is a professional setting. That night was a mistake. Nothing more.

Adrian released my hand, his gaze lingering for a fraction too long before he leaned against his desk. His arms crossed over his broad chest, muscles shifting beneath the expensive fabric of his tailored suit. There was something unreadable in his expression, something calculating.

"There's one condition to your employment, Miss Reed," he said smoothly.

Of course, there was.

I schooled my features into careful neutrality. "What is it?"

His smirk was slow, deliberate-almost predatory. "Whatever happened between us-" his gaze flicked over me, as if he could still see the remnants of that night "-stays in the past. We don't acknowledge it. We don't discuss it."

A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down.

"Agreed."

The word left my lips too quickly, but I needed this job. I needed the salary, the stability. And the last thing I wanted was for anyone to think I had slept my way into this position.

Adrian studied me for a moment longer, as if testing my resolve. His gray eyes-cool and assessing-held mine captive, and for a second, I wondered if he was waiting for me to say something more. But I wouldn't.

I couldn't.

Finally, he gave a sharp nod. "Good. Human Resources will send over your contract by the end of the day. You'll start Monday."

Just like that.

It was a done deal.

Relief and unease waged war inside me. I had secured the job, but in doing so, I had put myself in Adrian Sinclair's orbit. A man who-despite the businesslike façade-had the power to unearth emotions I had long since buried.

I straightened my shoulders, forcing a polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Sinclair."

His lips twitched. "Adrian," he corrected. "If we're going to work together, you should get used to calling me by my first name."

I hesitated, the weight of his words settling in. Calling him Adrian felt too personal, too intimate. But arguing would be pointless.

"Alright. Adrian."

His smirk deepened, but he said nothing more. Instead, he pressed a button on his desk, summoning his secretary. Moments later, the same red-haired woman who had initially led me into his office reappeared, her gaze flitting between us with thinly veiled curiosity.

"Mr. Sinclair?"

"Miss Reed is now an employee of Sinclair Enterprises," he said smoothly. "Ensure she gets everything she needs before she leaves."

The woman-Melissa, if I remembered correctly-barely concealed her surprise but nodded. "Of course."

I turned back to Adrian, my polite smile firmly in place. "I'll see you Monday."

His gray eyes gleamed, the amusement in them making my stomach twist. "Looking forward to it."

I left his office without another word, heart pounding in my chest.

I had gotten the job.

But at what cost?

---

Adrian

She thought she could pretend that night meant nothing.

That was cute.

I had spent years perfecting the art of control, of keeping emotions at bay. But Isabella Reed-she was a storm I hadn't anticipated. A storm that had crashed into my world without warning.

And now, she was working for me.

I should have let her walk away. Hell, I should have never hired her in the first place. But I didn't become the CEO of Sinclair Enterprises by following the rules.

I made my own.

And Isabella? She was now playing my game.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number.

"Ethan," I said as soon as my right-hand man picked up. "Look into Isabella Reed's departure from Westford & Co. I want every detail."

A pause.

"She's working for you now?" Ethan asked, sounding mildly surprised.

"Starting Monday."

He let out a low chuckle. "You never mix business with pleasure. What's different about her?"

I glanced at the chair she had just vacated, the scent of vanilla and something undeniably her still lingering in the air.

"Find out why she left," I repeated, ignoring his question. "I want the truth."

Because I had a feeling Isabella Reed was hiding something.

And I intended to find out exactly what it was.

---

Isabella

By the time I stepped out of Sinclair Enterprises, my mind was still reeling.

I had a job. A fresh start.

But I also had a boss who knew exactly how to push my buttons.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the bustling Manhattan sidewalk. People moved in controlled chaos, lost in their own worlds, their own routines. I blended in, but inside, I felt anything but invisible.

As I reached the corner, my phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled it out, grimacing when I saw the caller ID.

Mia.

My best friend.

And the only person who knew the full extent of my disastrous past.

I sighed and answered. "Hey, Mia."

"Don't hey, Mia me," she huffed. "I texted you three times! How did the interview go?"

I hesitated. "I got the job."

There was a beat of silence before she practically screeched, "That's amazing! But why do you sound like you just signed your soul away?"

I rubbed my temple, already dreading the reaction I was about to get. "Because, Mia... my new boss is him."

Silence.

Then-

"Wait. Him?"

I sighed. "Yes."

"The one-night stand him? The hot stranger you couldn't stop thinking about him?"

I groaned. "Yes, Mia. That him."

She let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's either fate or a cruel joke from the universe."

"Probably both," I muttered.

"So what now?" she asked.

I glanced up at the towering skyscraper behind me, my stomach twisting.

"Now?" I exhaled. "Now, I pretend that night never happened."

---

Adrian

I leaned back in my chair, scrolling through the file Ethan had sent over.

Westford & Co. had been quick to scrub any official reason for Isabella's departure, but there were whispers.

Rumors of a scandal.

A senior executive had been forced out months before Isabella left. There were no direct ties between them in the report, but something about the timeline didn't add up.

I tapped my fingers against my desk, intrigued.

Isabella Reed wasn't just running from a bad job.

She was running from something else. Something bigger.

And now that she was under my roof...

I intended to find out exactly what she was hiding.