Chapter 2: Meeting Again

Emily's POV

That night, I felt the kind of bliss Sara always raved about. I finally passed out from sheer exhaustion.

The next morning, I woke up sore all over.

As the haze of alcohol lifted and my thoughts cleared, I turned to see the man lying beside me. That chiseled jawline, those impossibly perfect features—

Oh. My. God.

I really slept with the CEO.

Panic surged through me. I held my breath, carefully peeled myself out of his arms like a cat burglar, grabbed my bag, and made a beeline out of Room 101.

I barely exhaled until I slammed the door of my new hotel room shut and collapsed onto the bed. Fumbling for my phone, I opened it—only to freeze in horror.

I had sent the text meant for Sara... to Alexander.

God help me. What have I done?!

I couldn't wrap my head around it. I sent the wrong message—but did he misread it too? Otherwise, why the hell did he show up in my room?

No matter the reason, I had to make sure he never found out it was me.

My fingers were trembling as I blocked him on every platform I could think of.

The company had booked the rooms. Even my direct manager barely interacted with the CEO. He wouldn’t know me... right?

I had to believe that. If I didn’t, I’d lose my mind.

My phone buzzed suddenly, and I jumped like it exploded.

It was a text from Adam, my supervisor:

“Emily, meet us in the lobby. Now.”

Right. Work. Reality. Crisis management mode.

I rushed into the bathroom. One look in the mirror and my heart dropped—faint red marks on my neck from last night.

Flushing with embarrassment, I grabbed my concealer and dabbed feverishly until every hint was gone. Then I threw on a crisp business suit, took one last paranoid glance in the mirror, and stepped out.

My heart was still thudding when I reached the elevator—and of course, that’s when Sara showed up.

“Emily!” she beamed, clearly in a fantastic mood.

“Why didn’t you text me back last night?” she nudged my arm teasingly.

“I fell asleep early,” I lied, trying to sound casual, but watching her face like a hawk.

“I’ll send you the videos tonight,” she whispered with a smirk. “You’re gonna love them.”

“It’s fine,” I said vaguely, cheeks heating again. “I, uh… figured it out myself.”

Sara looked at me suspiciously. “Figured it out? But didn’t you say you went to sleep early?”

Her eyes widened. “Wait… you didn’t actually—?”

I shoved her into the elevator before she could finish. “Don’t start. The elevator’s here.”

Just as I reached for the floor button, I heard a voice behind us:

“Hold the door.”

I turned. My knees nearly buckled.

It was Alexander. Our CEO. In a sharp suit, with his assistant in tow.

My blood ran cold.

Sara, meanwhile, stared at him like he was carved from marble. “Wow… our CEO is fine.”

She was practically swooning. “I bet sleeping with him would be next-level…”

And then my mouth betrayed me: “It was. Also—”

My words died mid-sentence.

What the hell did I just say?!

Sara’s jaw dropped. “Emily… how would you know?! You—”

Before she could finish, Alexander stepped inside the elevator with us.

I dropped my gaze instantly, pretending to be engrossed in my phone. My hands were slick with sweat, my pulse was everywhere.

The elevator was thick with tension—and his intoxicating cologne.

Memories from last night hit me like a freight train. The way he looked at me. The way he touched me...

No. Stop. Don’t go there.

I tried to stay composed, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

Then he spoke to his assistant:

“Find out who stayed in Room 101 last night.”

His voice was low, commanding—and ice cold.

My stomach flipped.

He’s investigating?! Why? What’s he planning to do?

Sara gasped and turned to him, thrilled: “Mr. Blackwood! Emily stayed in 101!”

I wanted to evaporate.

“Sara!” I hissed, clamping a hand over her mouth. “You’re mistaken! I was in 106!”

She blinked, confused. “Oh? Really?”

“Yes,” I said, trying not to choke on my own fear.

Alexander turned to look at me. His eyes were no longer warm or hungry—they were razor-sharp and guarded.

So different from the man who’d whispered in my ear last night.

I dropped my gaze even further.

The tension in that elevator could have snapped steel.

When the doors finally opened and Alexander stepped out, I exhaled for the first time in minutes.

Sara, completely unfazed, was still watching his retreating figure like a fangirl. “God, that walk! That back! Those shoulders!”

She leaned closer. “Bet a guy like that could go all night, huh?”

If she knew the truth, she’d probably combust.

“Sara, can you not?” I muttered, voice still shaky.

“What?” she said, all innocence. “It’s totally normal to fantasize about an Alpha like that. And rumor is, he still hasn’t found his true mate. Must have crazy-high standards.”

I stopped listening. My legs still felt like jelly when we reached the lobby.

Adam spotted me.

“Emily! Finally. Everything’s set for tonight,” he said, grinning. “And guess what? You’re coming with me to meet the CEO.”

What.

My voice hit a pitch I didn’t know I had. “I—what?!”

Adam blinked. “Why? Do you know him?”

“No! Of course not!” I waved my hands like a lunatic. “I just didn’t think you’d pick me to meet someone that important.”

A business meeting. With Alexander. Tonight.

This was a death sentence.

Sara was practically vibrating. “Meeting Alexander again? You lucky thing!”

“You literally just saw him in the elevator,” I mumbled.

“That doesn’t count! Tonight’s different. There’ll be drinks, eye contact, chemistry…” She was off in la-la land again.

I tried to hold it together. But inside, I was spiraling.

What if he recognizes me? What if he says something in front of Adam?!

Adam leaned closer, oblivious. “Tonight’s big, Emily. Look sharp, yeah?”

I nodded stiffly, smiling like I wasn’t seconds away from a full-blown meltdown.