Author's Preface
[Present Day]
[Annie]
I smooth a hand over my dress for the fourth time and let out a slow breath.
Amanda and I spent hours choosing it but I'm suddenly second guessing the emerald green shade.
Standing beneath the massive crystal chandeliers, surrounded by people who clearly belong here, I suddenly feel out of place.
"You look fine."
I turn.
Kai is standing a few feet away, one hand resting in his trouser pocket and a glass of champagne in the other.
His black tuxedo fits perfectly, as expected.
Everything about him is neat and controlled, right down to the way he stands.
He smells faintly of cedarwood and bergamot, clean and sharp.
Tonight is SilverOak Group's annual Real Estate Excellence Gala, one of the industry's biggest events.
Developers, investors, architects, and senior executives from across the industry have gathered for the evening.
SilverOak is nominated for Developer of the Year, while Project Orange has been shortlisted for Best Marketing Strategy, which is why Kai and I are here to represent the West Branch.
"You look good," I offer.
His eyes settle on me for a moment, assessing. "So do you."
He takes a sip of his champagne.
Before I can decide whether he meant anything by that, a voice breaks in.
"Sterlings."
It's Daniel Lee, a senior portfolio manager from the institutional investments team.
He gives Kai a brief nod before turning to me.
"Annie, right? I've heard good things about the Project Orange campaign."
"Thank you."
"The collateral was well done," he says, taking a sip of scotch. "It's always refreshing to see marketing simplify complex asset valuations so nicely for the public."
I know exactly what he means.
The compliment sounds harmless, but the jab isn't.
Kai's expression changes slightly, but I catch his eye, shooting him a quick look to hold him off.
I look back to Daniel.
"We weren't trying to make the numbers look appealing. We were trying to make them understandable."
His eyebrows lift.
"The distinction matters," I continue. "In fact, if institutional investments hadn't miscalculated the Q3 absorption rates, we wouldn't have had to restructure the campaign to protect your margins."
Daniel's smirk disappears. "I see."
"The data is there if you'd like to review it."
"I might." He looks uncomfortable.
"I'm sure you will."
There's an awkward pause.
And neither of us say anything for a moment.
Then, Daniel clears his throat before giving a short nod and excusing himself, moving back into the crowd.
I take another sip of water.
When I look at Kai, he's watching me.
"Precise," he says quietly.
"I don't appreciate people minimizing my team's work," I say raising an eyebrow. "Especially not when they're hiding behind bad data."
"I noticed." The corner of his mouth lifts slightly.
"Good," he says. "Don't let them."
Before I can answer, an older man with silver hair approaches us from across the room. "Kai."
There's an immediate change in Kai's expression.
He straightens, his shoulders going rigid.
For some reason, he looks almost alarmed.
"Mr. Rao," Kai says, extending his hand.
"It's been a long time," the man says with a wide smile.
I look between them.
Victor Rao is one of the biggest names in the city's commercial real estate industry.
I've seen him in business magazines and industry journals, but never in person.
So why does a man like him know Kai?
Then I notice the small signet ring on Kai's pinky.
I've never seen him wear it at the office.
Mr. Rao turns towards me. "And you must be Annie Hayes."
"Yes, sir. It's a pleasure."
"I've reviewed your work on Project Orange. Very impressive. Your presentation made a complicated strategy easy to follow."
"Thank you." I feel a sense of pride.
He then glances at Kai. "She's brilliant, Sterlings. Seems like you didn't just hire a lead but also someone who commands the room."
Kai doesn't hesitate.
His eyes remain fixed on me as he speaks to Mr. Rao. "Yes, she is. Annie knows what she's doing. I just gave her room to do it."
Something about the way he says it makes me look at him.
Mr. Rao gives him a knowing smile before turning back to me.
"It was good meeting you, Annie."
"You too, sir."
Mr. Rao gives us another knowing smile before disappearing into the crowd.
I turn to Kai the second we're alone. "How do you know him?"
"We've crossed paths before."
"That's a very vague answer," I say, waiting for more details.
"It's the only answer you're getting."
I narrow my eyes at him.
Before I can question him any further, a woman from the event staff approaches us with a tablet in her hands.
"Mr. Sterlings, Ms. Hayes?"
We both turn to her.
"You're the representatives for SilverOak's shortlisted campaign, correct?" She asks.
"Yes," I say.
"We're about to begin the opening portion of the program. The shortlisted representatives are expected to take part in the first dance on the main floor before the award announcements. The press is already set up."
I freeze and stare at her. "The dance? Is it mandatory?"
She nods apologetically. "It's part of the company's protocol."
I look at Kai but he seems completely unfazed.
"Apparently we're dancing," I say sarcastically.
"Apparently," he repeats while holding out his hand towards me.
I look at it for a second before taking it, refusing to appear flustered.
His fingers close around mine, firm but not tight.
He guides me to the dance floor, onto the polished hardwood under the low, ambient lighting.
The track is slow, and couples from the company are already moving around us.
Some look comfortable and some awkward, like us.
Kai gently places one hand at my waist and holds my hand with the other.
There's enough distance between us to remain appropriate, but I can still feel how close he is.
There is no teasing smirk or playful banter between us.
And somehow, that makes me more aware of how close we are.
"You look tense," he murmurs.
"I'm fine," I say, keeping a straight face.
"You've been counting the steps," he comments.
I glance up at him. "Have I?"
"Yes," he replies low.
I almost laugh. "Maybe I don't like making mistakes in front of two hundred executives."
"You won't," he says, keeping his eyes on me.
"How do you know?" I meet his eyes, refusing to look away first.
"Because you're too stubborn to mess up," he says, calmly.
I give him a stare and notice his mouth twitching.
\
For a moment we move together in silence, neither of us saying anything while the music carries us around the floor.
I become aware of his hand at my waist again and immediately start focusing on the people around us, the music, the lights overhead.
"You didn't need my help with Daniel," he adds quietly.
"Of course," I mutter.
"I wasn't going to interfere," he says gently.
"You looked like you were about to," I hit back.
"I was considering it." A faint smile touches his lips.
"Well, don't," I press.
His eyes settle on mine.
"Noted." He nods.
The dance continues in silence.
We're standing close enough for me to hear his breathing, but somehow this still feels more like an argument than anything else.
When the song finally ends, I step back almost immediately.
"Thank you," I say.
"You're welcome," he replies, his voice low as he leads me back towards our table.
[ *** ]
The rest of the evening passes in a blur of speeches, dinner, and congratulations.
By midnight, SilverOak has officially won Developer of the Year, while our team won the Best New Project.
Between the victory toasts and the long dinner, I've had three glasses of champagne, more than I've had in months.
My head feels heavier than it should, and a familiar haziness starts to set in.
[ *** ]
"You've had enough," Kai says quietly as the night wraps up.
The Gala has finally come to an end.
I look at him. "I can still walk fine."
"I didn't say you couldn't." He lightly tilts his head.
"I'm fine," I say, tightening my grip on my clutch.
"You've said that three times."
I sigh.
He takes the bag from my hand before I can protest and leads me toward the exit.
Outside, the cool air hits my face and I feel my head clear slightly.
Kai leads me towards his car and opens the passenger door.
" I'll take the company car." I stand rooted to my spot.
He raises an eyebrow and gestures toward the open door.
We stand in a brief, silent standoff.
"Fine. I can get in myself," I mutter as the dizziness starts getting the better of me.
"I know." He waits until I'm seated before closing the door.
[ *** ]
The drive is quiet.
The city lights blur outside the window.
But I'm too tired to focus on them.
At some point, my head slips against the window.
I barely register the car coming to a stop followed by the soft feel of Kai's hand gently shifting my head off the glass to rest against the headrest.
"Stay awake, Annie," his voice now sounds distant.
"I'm awake," I say, as I struggle to keep my eyes open.
"I'm fine," I just mumble before the darkness takes over completely.
I don't remember anything after that.
[ *** ]
I wake up to bright sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains.
I feel my head pounding.
I shift under a heavy, warm duvet, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
Then, my hand brushes against a solid warmth beside me.
I freeze.
I am wide awake now, the headache pausing for a second.
This isn't my apartment.
I slowly turn my head, taking in the sight.
Kai is lying right next to me, fast asleep.
He's wearing a dark grey t-shirt, his hair messy from sleep.
Without his usual suit and that guarded expression he wears at work, he looks completely different.
My heart starts beating fast.
I quickly look down at myself.
I'm still in my emerald dress.
I notice that my heels are neatly placed on the hardwood floor beside his desk.
My clutch and accessories sit on the bedside table.
I reach back and feel the zipper of my dress slightly pulled down a couple of inches.
I look at Kai, then back at my dress.
My mind goes completely blank.
What happened last night?
I sit completely still, afraid that moving might somehow make things worse.
I realize that I spent the night at my boss's apartment.
And apparently, in his bed.