WHERE OUR HEARTS MEET

Elena Blake sat in the corner of a cramped café, with her fingers trembling as she refreshed her inbox for what felt like the hundredth time that morning.

Her breath caught when a new email appeared. Calloway Corporation Interview Invitation.

Her pulse pounded. This was it. A chance to escape she had been waiting for. A real job, far away from her father's suffocating empire.

She scanned the email. Her Interview was scheduled for 10:00 AM tomorrow. Executive Suite, Calloway Tower.

Calloway Tower is the heart of a corporate empire that owned half the city.

She'd never set foot inside, never imagined she'd even get the opportunity. She exhaled shakily, gripping the coffee cup between her hands.

This job was her ticket out.

Meanwhile, Across the street, a black car idled. Behind its tinted windows, a man watched her.

Ethan Calloway leaned back in his seat, fingers steepled, lips curving into a satisfied smirk.

'The mouse had taken the bait.'

***

Elena Blake stood outside the towering glass skyscraper of Calloway Corporation , her pulse drumming in her ears.

The building was a fortress of steel and ambition, a far cry from the decaying mansion she had spent her childhood in, the house that belonged to Vincent Blake, the infamous crime lord.

Dressed in her most professional attire a fitted navy-blue blazer and modest pencil skirt, she squared her shoulders and stepped inside.

The marble floors glistened, high ceilings arching overhead. Employees in tailored suits hurried past, exuding the efficiency of a well-oiled machine.

This interview was her chance. A chance for her to escape the life she had been born into. A chance to build something for herself.

If they found out who she was, she'd be out the door before she could finish saying her name.

She exhaled slowly, gripping the strap of her purse. No one knew. No one had to know. She was just another applicant, another woman looking for a job.

With a deep breath, she stepped forward, pushing through the revolving doors.

A receptionist, crisp and polished, glanced at her. "Miss Blake?"

Elena nodded and smiled faintly

"Mr. Calloway will see you now."

Her stomach twisted. She thought it was unusual for a CEO to personally conduct interviews. But she pushed the thought away. She needed this and she silently prayed she impressed the CEO

She followed the receptionist to the top floor, where a private elevator hummed softly as it carried her up, up to where power sat behind a polished desk.

***

Hgh above, in an office that overlooked the city, Ethan Calloway watched the security feed with an unreadable expression.

His sharp blue eyes traced the figure of the woman walking through his lobby.

Elena Blake.

His fingers drummed lightly against his desk. He had expected this moment for years, but he hadn't expected it to come so easily.

The daughter of the man who had ruined his life, stepping willingly into his territory.

He had seen her name on the applicant list and recognized it instantly. The surname had nearly made him laugh.

Did she think she could hide? That the world had forgotten the sins of her father?

If the world did, he would never do.

A slow smirk curled his lips.

This was an opportunity he hadn't anticipated. An opportunity for revenge.

He pressed the intercom button. "Cancel the rest of my meetings for the morning."

"Yes, Mr. Calloway," his assistant responded.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under him. Let the game begin.

He stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, hands in his pockets, his imposing six-foot-three frame radiating authority. His jet-black hair was neatly styled, his tailored charcoal suit flawless. Every inch of him screamed control, precision, danger.

When the elevator doors opened, he turned.

Elena Blake.

The name alone made his blood run hot. The daughter of Vincent Blake, the man responsible for his parents' deaths.

She stepped into his office, cautious but determined. Up close, she was striking.

Dark auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, green eyes sharp and observant.

She carried herself with quiet resilience, but he saw the hesitation in the slight twitch of her fingers, the way she clasped them tightly together.

She was nervous. Good.

He smiled, a slow, deliberate expression, calculated to disarm.

Elena sat in the sleek, minimalist office, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The air smelled of expensive cologne and polished wood.

The door opened.

Ethan Calloway stepped inside.

Elena had seen pictures of him before, he was impossible to avoid in the business world. Billionaire. Ruthless. The kind of man people feared and respected in equal measure.

But in person?

He was more intimidating than any photograph could capture.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with a tailored navy suit that fit his powerful frame effortlessly. His chiseled jaw was clean-shaven, his features sharp, commanding. But it was his eyes, icy blue and piercing, that sent a chill down her spine.

"Miss Blake," he said, his voice smooth, almost amused. He extended a hand. "Ethan Calloway."

Elena thought it was unusual for a CEO to offer to shake and applicant, so she hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking it. His grip was firm, strong. A businessman's handshake. A powerful man's handshake.

"Good morning, Mr. Calloway," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.

He gestured for her to sit. He moved with confidence, a man who owned the world and knew it.

"I reviewed your application," he said, settling into his chair. "Impressive. You have a background in finance, yet no previous employment history. That's unusual."

Elena kept her expression neutral. "I was self-employed for a while. Freelancing."

His lips twitched in something close to a smirk. "Is that so?"

She nodded

You applied for the executive assistant position." He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "Tell me, why Calloway Corporation ?"

She swallowed, forcing herself to hold his gaze.

"I'm looking for a fresh start. Your company represents stability, and I want to be part of something that builds rather than destroys."

Ethan's smirk deepened. Interesting choice of words, considering who her father was.

He glanced at her résumé, he already knew every detail about her life, but he let her believe he was reading it for the first time.

"Since you have an impressive academic background, but limited experience in corporate settings." He tapped the paper lightly. "Why should I take a risk on you?"

Elena's back straightened. "Because I won't waste the opportunity."

He liked her fire. It would make the game more entertaining.

"I admire your ambition," he continued, tapping a pen against his desk. "And I believe in second chances."

Elena frowned slightly. "Second chances?"

His eyes locked onto hers, intense, unreadable. "You'd be surprised how many people are trying to escape something."

Her heart skipped. What was that? Was that a coincidence? Or did he know more than he was letting on?

Before she could respond, he leaned forward. "The job is yours, Miss Blake. Effective immediately."

Her breath caught. "You're offering me the position?"

"Unless you'd rather decline." His tone was smooth, almost teasing. But beneath it was something else. A challenge. A trap.

Elena forced a smile. "I accept. Thank your Mr Calloway"

Ethan's smirk deepened. She had no idea what she had just walked into.

He extended his hand. She quickly and happily took it with smiles

Her skin was warm against his, and for a fleeting second, something unexpected flickered through him.

But he buried it.

She had no idea she'd just walked into his trap.

***

Elena exited the building in a daze. She'd done it. She had a job. A real chance to carve out her own path.

A chance to build her own and live a life of her own outside have father's empire.

The interview had been too easy. Too smooth.

As she walked toward the street, she had the unsettling feeling of being watched.

A breeze ruffled her hair as she stepped onto the busy sidewalk, lost in thought. She barely noticed the black SUV parked across the street.

***

High above, Ethan stood by his office window, watching her.

His fingers curled around a glass of scotch. She thought she was escaping her past.

She had no idea she had just walked into a cage.

And he was the one holding the key.

His smirk returned.

The game had begun.

And he always played to win.

Elena resumed her job at the sleek, towering structure of Calloway Corporation, the air crisp with the scent of polished wood and power.

A hush settled around the lobby, the kind that belonged to empires, where people walked with purpose, heads down, eyes focused on deals that moved the world.

The sharp click of her heels echoed against the marble floor, each step measured, controlled, a mask over the storm beneath her skin.

She had played her part well in the interview, standing her ground against Ethan Calloway's piercing gaze.

But it was too easy. A man like him didn't just hand out jobs to strangers, especially not to women with last names that carried blood and ruin.

Vincent Blake's daughter, working for Ethan Calloway.

It was laughable.

She knew he was her Dad's sworn enemy but didn't know what went down between them.

She had caught her dad cussing every time his name popped up on his television screen whether in the news or an interview.

And yet, here she was, standing at the elevator doors, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag as she waited.

She wasn't curious because she didn't want to get bothered. No, she couldn't be bothered by what her father had done or was doing. She just wants to live her own life, as chooses her path.

She was just tired of living the life of a mafia princess.

A ding cut through her thoughts.

The doors slid open.

Inside, Ethan stood waiting.

Her breath hitched for half a second.

He hadn't been there a moment ago.

His piercing blue eyes met hers, unreadable. He was every bit as intimidating as he had been in the interview, tall, broad-shouldered, his navy suit tailored to perfection, a presence so commanding it pressed against the walls.

"Miss Blake," he greeted, voice smooth, velvety, edged with something that sent a whisper of unease down her spine.

Elena schooled her features. "Mr. Calloway, Good Morning."

She stepped inside. The doors sealed them in.

Silence.

The hum of the elevator vibrated beneath her feet, the air suddenly too thick, too still.

"Sleep well?" Ethan asked casually, watching her in the reflection of the mirrored walls.

Elena met his gaze through the glass. "Sure I did. Thanks. Anything?"

A slow smirk curled his lips. "That depends on how well you behave."

Elena exhaled steadily, refusing to let him see the crack in her armor. She had grown up surrounded by men like him, calculating, powerful, always two steps ahead.

She could handle this.

"Alright, I will try," she replied, tilting her chin.

His eyes darkened with something unreadable.

"Oh, Miss Blake I forgot to tell you," he murmured, stepping closer, his presence suffocating, "you signed up to play games with me the moment you walked into my office."

'I did?"

The doors slid open.

Elena stepped out first, pulse thrumming. Ethan's chuckle followed her.

She had barely made it past the glass doors when a woman intercepted her path, a blonde with sharp features, a fitted black dress that screamed authority, and a clipboard in hand.

"Miss Blake?"

"Yes?"

The woman gave her a tight-lipped smile. "Welcome to Calloway Corporation. I'm Olivia Moore, Mr. Calloway's executive assistant."

Elena's stomach twisted. Executive assistant?

That was the job she had applied for.

Before she could question it, Olivia continued,

"Follow me. Mr. Calloway has instructed me to give you a full tour before you begin."

Ethan strode past them, pausing just long enough to glance back at Elena.

"Play nice," he murmured, his gaze flickering with something almost amused before he disappeared into his office.

Elena clenched her jaw.

Something wasn't right. This is supposed to be a corporate world but it seems it's more than what she expected.

'What's wrong with the CEO?" She asked herself squinting

As Olivia led her through the maze of glass-walled offices, Elena could feel the weight of eyes trailing her, employees stealing glances, whispering.

It seems she wasn't just a new hire.

She was a curiosity. A spectacle.

By the time they reached the executive floor, Olivia turned sharply.

"This is your desk," she said, nodding toward a sleek, minimalist workstation right outside Ethan's office.

Elena's stomach dropped.

She wasn't Olivia's replacement.

She was Ethan's.

Elena sat at her desk, back straight, fingers resting lightly on the keyboard. She could feel Ethan's presence even without looking, his office door was open, his gaze occasionally flicking toward her.

She hadn't expected to be placed directly outside his office, let alone given a role that ensured he had complete control over her every move.

This wasn't a simple job like she envisioned. It was a test.

Does it have anything to do with who her father is? She wondered

Whatever it is, she had no intention of failing.

A soft chime from her computer pulled her attention to an incoming email.

Subject: First Task.

Elena clicked it open.

Miss Blake,

If you truly belong here, prove it.

A file labeled Project Titan is on the company's server. Find it. Summarize its key points. Deliver it to me in fifteen minutes.

Good luck.

Her pulse quickened.

Fifteen minutes.

She opened the company's shared database, scrolling through hundreds of files. Project Titan wasn't in the main system. She tried a keyword search. Nothing.

Elena clenched her jaw.

He was testing her intelligence. Fine.

She glanced toward his office. Ethan was leaning back in his chair, watching her through the glass walls, his expression unreadable.

Elena forced herself to breathe. If it wasn't in the main system, it had to be restricted.

She checked the executive access folders, scanning through high-level projects. Still nothing.

Then, she noticed a naming pattern among the confidential files. The codenames were all structured similarly, but one seemed out of place: PTN_01.

She clicked it.

A password prompt appeared.

Elena's heart pounded.

She didn't have access.

Think.

Ethan wouldn't expect her to hack the system, but he would expect her to figure out a way in.

She quickly pulled up her email again, scanning his message. If you truly belong here, prove it.

It was a clue.

Prove it.

Elena typed: Proveit

Incorrect password

She typed: belonghere.

Access granted.

"So easy?" she exclaimed

The file opened. She skimmed the pages, her mind racing. Project Titan was a high-stakes merger deal worth billions.

If she messed this up, she wouldn't just be out of a job, she'd be making enemies with powerful men considering that her father might be already involved.

She summarized the key points, double-checked her work, and then stood.

Ethan was still watching.

Elena walked into his office, dropped the printed summary onto his desk, and folded her arms. "Here please."

A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips.

"Impressive," he murmured. "But tell me, Miss Blake, how did you find it?"

Elena smiled. "If I told you, I wouldn't be as valuable, would I?"

For the first time, Ethan's smirk faltered, just for a second.

Then he chuckled. "You might just belong here."

Elena didn't blink. "Oh, I intend to survive here too, Mr. Calloway."

His eyes darkened. "Good. Because this is only the beginning."

*******

Vincent Blake sat in the dimly lit corner of his study, the glow from the city skyline reflecting off the polished whiskey glass in his hand. He swirled the amber liquid absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere.

His daughter was up to something.

Elena had never shown interest in the corporate world, yet, she had walked into Calloway Corporation like she belonged there. That wasn't an accident.

Vincent had spent decades building his empire, controlling his world with an iron grip. He knew the game better than anyone.

And Elena, his only daughter, had been raised in that world. She was too smart to act without reason.

But the question was, whose game was she playing?

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Enter," Vincent said, his voice calm but firm.

The door opened, and Marcus, his most trusted enforcer, stepped inside. Dressed in his usual dark suit, the man exudes quiet menace, his sharp gaze never missing a detail.

"You wanted an update on Miss Blake?" Marcus asked.

Vincent set his glass down. "Go on."

"She started work at Calloway Corporation today," Marcus said. "Position: executive assistant to Ethan Calloway."

Vincent's jaw tightened. Assistant?

No. That wasn't Elena's style.

"She didn't just get the job," Marcus continued. "She earned it. Calloway put her through a test. She passed."

Vincent exhaled slowly, his mind working through the implications.

Ethan Calloway wasn't an idiot. He wouldn't let a mafia princess into his company without a reason.

Was he using Elena? Or was she using him?

Vincent leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. "I want eyes on her. Close, but not obvious. If she's making a move, I need to know what it is."

Marcus nodded. "Already done."

"And Calloway?"

Marcus hesitated. "He's paying attention to her. More than expected."

Vincent's grip tightened around his glass.

That was dangerous.

Ethan Calloway was not a man to be underestimated. He was powerful, ruthless in business, and carried a reputation for being unpredictable. Vincent had never considered him a threat before, but now?

Now, he wasn't so sure.

"Keep watching," Vincent ordered. "If he gets too close, remind him who she belongs to."

Marcus inclined his head. "Understood."

As the door closed behind him, Vincent picked up his whiskey again, staring into the swirling liquid.

Elena thought she was free.

She wasn't.

She would never be. She would always be his daughter.

*******

The next morning, Elena walked into Calloway Corporation, dressed in a fitted black pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse. If Ethan wanted to test her, she was ready.

She stepped into his office, where he stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the city.

He turned when she entered, his gaze assessing. "You're punctual."

"You don't seem to me as the kind of man who tolerates lateness, Mr CEO."

His lips curved slightly. "Smart."

She crossed her arms. "What are we doing today Sir?"

Ethan gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Sit."

She did, crossing her legs as she met his gaze.

"I have a proposition," he said, his voice smooth. "You'll be working directly under me. That means every deal, every negotiation, every move I make, you'll be involved."

Elena didn't react, though her pulse quickened. This was more than she'd anticipated.

He was really trying to test her if she was working for her father. He could have asked her directly, but who would?

She doesn't want to be caught in whatever happened between them. She just wanted to live away from being a Mafia Princess.

"Mr Calloway, is there something you want to ask me?"

Mr Calloway, is there something you want to ask me?"

"'Why do you think so?" he replied carefully observing her expression.

'I'm sure my job doesn't involve reporting directly to you. You could've had anyone take this position," she said carefully. "Why me?"

Ethan studied her for a long moment. "Because you intrigue me."

She arched an eyebrow. "But it may not be what you are thinking, Mr. Calloway."

His smirk deepened. "You know what I think?."

"Are you afraid of me?" he added

Elena leaned forward slightly, meeting his gaze. "I'm not afraid of you, Mr Calloway."

His gaze darkened, something unreadable flickering in his expression. "Good. Because working for me means stepping into the fire. And once you're in, there's no turning back."

The warning sent a shiver down her spine, but she didn't back down.

"Then let's see if it is what you think it is."

She said, hoping he got her message.

Ethan's smirk faded, replaced by something more serious. "We'll see."

A knock on the door interrupted them. One of Ethan's assistants peeked in. "Mr. Calloway, your next meeting is ready."

Ethan nodded, then turned back to Elena. "I'll have your contract drawn up. You start tomorrow."

Elena stood, smoothing down her skirt. "Sure Sir, looking forward to it."

As she walked out of his office, she felt his gaze on her back.

She had just stepped into a world where the stakes were higher than ever. She had never signed up for any of this to happen. Now she had no choice but to play to win.

Her phone buzzed.

Dad: Come home. Now.

Her stomach clenched. She exhaled slowly, keeping her expression composed even as unease curled in her gut.

*******

Elena sat in the sleek black town car, her fingers tapping an idle rhythm against the leather seat. The ride back from Calloway Corporation had been quiet, but the tension in the air was unmistakable.

She had the job.

But she wasn't naive enough to think Ethan Calloway had hired her purely on merit. He was testing her. Watching her. And she had to play this game perfectly.

Her phone buzzed.

Vincent: Come home. Now.

Her stomach clenched. She exhaled slowly, keeping her expression composed even as unease curled in her gut.

The gates of the estate loomed ahead thick steel, towering, impenetrable. Beyond them, the mansion sprawled in all its intimidating glory. It wasn't just a home; it was a kingdom.

Stone walls, grand pillars, and a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed hedges. This was the place she had once called home. The place she grew up

Now, it felt like a cage.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the entrance, two guards stepped forward. One opened the door for her, but neither greeted her. She wasn't a guest here. She was an asset, one her father wasn't willing to lose.

Inside, the scent of old leather and expensive cigars clung to the air. Marble floors gleamed under the grand chandelier, and large oil paintings of long-dead ancestors lined the walls.

Elena had walked these halls as a child, seeking warmth in a place that offered none.

Vincent was waiting in his study, behind a massive oak desk, his fingers steepled together.

He was a man who commanded fear without raising his voice. Dark-haired, broad-shouldered, with eyes so sharp they could cut through steel. Time had barely touched him.

"Elena," he said, his voice smooth but laced with something heavier.

"Dad."

Vincent gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit."

She obeyed, keeping her spine straight, refusing to let him see even an ounce of uncertainty.

"You didn't tell me you were applying for a job at Calloway Corporation," he said smoothly, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

Elena met his gaze, keeping her posture relaxed. "I didn't know I needed permission."

Vincent smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Since when do you care about business?"

She shrugged. "Maybe I got tired of being nothing more than the Blake princess."

His grip tightened around the glass. "Or maybe you're playing a dangerous game."

Elena tilted her head. "And what game would that be?"

Vincent leaned forward, setting the whiskey down with a quiet clink. "You tell me."

She refused to look away,

"Dad, it's not any of those things you are thinking about. I just want control of my own life. That's all."

"And you have to go to the Calloway?" he asked

Dad, what is it between you and Ethan? Whatever it is, I don't want to get caught in it"

"You've been busy to know what your father is up to." He leaned back, watching her.

"And since You've been watching all of my movements, I think it's time to stop whatever game you are playing with Ethan that might harm me. I'm planning on building my career at the Calloway Corporation and I don't want anything to ruin it."

Vincent smirked a flicker of amusement in his gaze.

"Calloway Corporation?" He let the words settle between them. "That's an interesting career choice for a girl who swore she wanted nothing to do with the business world."

"I want a life of my own, Dad, don't you get it."

"A life," Vincent repeated, rolling the word over his tongue like he was testing its weight. "And you think Ethan Calloway is going to give that to you?"

Elena didn't blink. "I think I'm capable of building it myself if you stop whatever game you are playing with him."

Vincent leaned forward. "No one walks away from this family, Elena, especially you my daughter."

There it was. The warning. The reminder.

But she wouldn't back down.

"I'm not walking away," she said evenly. "I'm just choosing something different."

Vincent studied her, searching for weakness. But she held his gaze, unwavering.

Finally, he exhaled.

"You think Calloway is your escape? but men like Ethan don't give without expecting something in return."

Elena crossed her arms. "And what about you? You've never given me a choice in anything. Ethan is giving me a chance even when he knows I'm your daughter."

A flicker of something passed through Vincent's expression, something dangerous.

"You're my daughter," he said, voice softer now, but no less firm. "And that means something, whether you like it or not."

Elena stood. "Then maybe it's time it meant something different."

For the first time, Vincent's expression darkened, his jaw tightening.

"You don't want to make an enemy out of me, Elena."

The words sent a chill through her, but she refused to let it show.

"I don't want to make an enemy out of anyone either"

She turned and walked out, her heart pounding, knowing that she had just drawn a line in the sand.

And Vincent Blake never let lines go uncrossed.

******

Ethan poured himself a drink, the ice clinking against the glass, his thoughts spiraling as he studied Elena.

She stood in front of his desk, arms crossed, head high, every inch the woman who refused to bend. But, knowing who she really was, Ethan wasn't sure whether to admire her or be wary.

Elena Blake.

Daughter of Vincent Blake.

A woman born into power, raised in a world of ruthless men who controlled everything around them.

Yet here she was, standing in his office, playing the role of an ambitious employee.

Either she was exactly what she claimed to be, someone trying to carve her own path, or she was playing a game far more dangerous than she let on.

She arched her brow. "Are you okay sir?"

Ethan chuckled, but it was low, unreadable. "Maybe not. You tell me"

Elena's lips twitched, but she didn't break eye contact.

"You wanted me to report directly to you. So here I am. What's the issue?" she replied, avoiding his question.

Ethan walked toward her, closing the space between them. She didn't move, didn't even blink.

"Tell me, Elena," he murmured, tilting his head. "Why Calloway Corporation ?"

She exhaled sharply. "Because I want something different."

"You had everything handed to you." His tone was measured, not accusing, just probing. "Why leave a life of guaranteed wealth and power for this?"

"Is that what you have been wondering? You think I'm working for my father? Is that why you are making things difficult for me?" she blurted out in one breath.

"What?" Ethan exclaimed, confused at her outburst.

"Aren't you afraid of me being my father's daughter? An enemy's daughter came into your lair. But I don't care about whatever has happened or is happening between you two since none of you want to tell me"

Ethan stood speechless, watching her fighting back her tears. Not knowing if to believe her or not.

Elena let out a soft laugh, but there was no humor in it.

"You think growing up in my father's world was easy?" Her eyes darkened.

"Nothing is ever free with men like him. And here I am, trying to build a name for myself aside from the Mafia princess and you are also waiting to throw me in a cage for nothing I know about"

Ethan leaned against the edge of his desk, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "You could have worked anywhere, but you chose here. Why?."

Elena stiffened. "Are you still accusing me of something?"

"I'm wondering if I should."

A slow, unreadable smile crossed her lips. "If I were my father's pawn, do you really think I'd be standing in front of you right now? A day is just enough for me to get whatever information he wants me to get from you. But look, it has been two weeks of working for you and nothing has happened"

Ethan studied her, searching for cracks. He didn't find any.

But that didn't mean they weren't there.

"Maybe not," he admitted. "Or maybe you're just good at playing the game."

Elena took a step closer. "You tell me, Ethan. Do I look like someone who could do that?"

Ethan's lips curved in amusement, at the way she had called his first name, he liked it but something inside him tightened.

She was right.

Everything about Elena screamed defiance. She wasn't the type to be controlled. But that didn't mean she wasn't dangerous.

"You're an enigma." He drained his drink and set the glass down. "And enigmas tend to be unpredictable."

Elena smirked. "Good if you won't believe me, please, don't make things hard for me."

Ethan watched as she turned and walked toward the door.

Just before she stepped out, he called out, "Watch your back, Elena."

She paused, glancing over her shoulder. "You too, Ethan."

Then she was gone, leaving behind the scent of something he couldn't quite place, something intoxicating.

Ethan exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. Should he believe her?

Liam's voice echoed in his head.

"She's his daughter."

Damn it.

This wasn't just business anymore.

And if he wasn't careful, it was going to cost him.

****

Ethan barely had a moment to process his conversation with Elena before Liam Hayes walked into his office, the tension rolling off him in waves.

Liam had been Ethan's best friend since college and his most trusted legal advisor.

Unlike Ethan, who was doing well in the world of high-stakes deals and calculated risks, Liam played things safe. He was sharp, practical, and always two steps ahead of trouble.

Tonight, trouble had a name.

Elena Blake.

Liam closed the door behind him and folded his arms.

"Tell me you're not actually considering keeping her around."