Two weeks into her internship, Hana had established a routine. Arrive early, leave late, work tirelessly in between, and most importantly—avoid being alone with Ellis Sterling.
It wasn't easy. Ellis seemed to materialize whenever Hana least expected: in the break room at odd hours, in the elevator just as the doors were closing, in the copy room when Hana was certain the floor was empty. Each time, Ellis would give her that knowing smirk, stand just a little too close, and say something innocuous with a tone that was anything but.
"You've impressed Joan," Ellis remarked during one such encounter. "She doesn't impress easily."
Hana had kept her responses professional, her body language closed, and her eyes carefully averted from Ellis's lips. But maintaining that professionalism grew harder each day, especially as she found herself genuinely enjoying the work. Joan had started giving her real projects rather than busywork, and the challenge was exhilarating.
"You're actually good at this," Joan had said that morning, reviewing Hana's market analysis for a new product line. "Most interns just regurgitate what they think we want to hear."
"Thanks," Hana had replied, surprised by the rare compliment. "I'm trying to—"
She'd stopped mid-sentence, her attention caught by the woman stepping off the elevator. Tall, willowy, with honeyed blonde hair and the kind of effortless elegance that came from generations of wealth. The woman approached Joan's desk with a smile that didn't quite reach her cool blue eyes.
"Victoria," Joan acknowledged, standing. "We weren't expecting you today."
"I thought I'd surprise Ellis," the woman—Victoria—said, her cultured voice carrying the faintest hint of a British accent. "Is she in?"
"Conference call with Tokyo. Should be done in twenty minutes."
Victoria's gaze settled on Hana, assessing her with laser precision. "And who might this be?"
"Hana Adams, our new executive intern," Joan introduced. "Ms. Adams, this is Victoria Ashford."
"Ellis's fiancée," Victoria added, extending a manicured hand. "How lovely to meet you."
Fiancée. The word hit Hana like a physical blow. Ellis was engaged? To this gorgeous, sophisticated woman who looked like she belonged on the cover of Vogue?
"Nice to meet you," Hana managed, shaking Victoria's hand. Her own felt clammy in comparison.
"Ellis never mentioned taking on a personal intern," Victoria said, still studying Hana with uncomfortable intensity. "You must be quite exceptional."
Something in her tone made Hana's skin prickle with unease. "I'm just here to learn," she said carefully.
"Aren't we all?" Victoria smiled thinly. "Joan, I'll wait in Ellis's office. Perhaps Ms. Adams could bring me some tea?"
It wasn't a request. Joan nodded slightly, and Hana moved to the executive kitchen, mind racing. Ellis was engaged. Of course she was. Someone like Ellis Sterling—wealthy, powerful, devastatingly attractive—wouldn't be single. The realization shouldn't have bothered her so much, but it did.
As she prepared the tea (Joan had quietly informed her that Victoria took it with lemon, no sugar), Hana tried to process her conflicted emotions. Disappointment, certainly. Embarrassment at having been another notch on Ellis's bedpost. But also, strangely, relief. This was exactly the push she needed to maintain professional boundaries.
When she entered Ellis's office with the tea tray, Victoria was examining the photographs on the wall—Ellis with various dignitaries and celebrities, Ellis receiving awards, Ellis cutting ribbons at charity events.
"Your tea, Ms. Ashford," Hana said, setting down the tray.
"Thank you, dear." Victoria turned, studying Hana with newfound interest. "You know, you're not what I expected."
"I'm sorry?"
"Ellis's usual type tends toward the obvious. Models, actresses, socialites." Victoria gestured vaguely. "You're... refreshingly normal."
Heat crawled up Hana's neck. "I don't know what you—"
"Please." Victoria waved dismissively. "Ellis has her little... diversions. I've long since made my peace with it. Our arrangement is more practical than passionate."
"Ms. Ashford, I really should get back to work," Hana said, desperate to escape this conversation.
"Of course." Victoria sipped her tea. "Just a word of advice, Ms. Adams. Don't mistake attention for affection. Ellis tires of her playthings quickly."
Before Hana could respond, the office door opened and Ellis walked in, focused on her phone. "Joan, did the Tokyo figures come through? I need to—" She looked up, stopping mid-sentence at the sight of Victoria. "Vic. This is unexpected."
"Darling," Victoria crossed the room, kissing Ellis on both cheeks. "I thought we could do lunch. The Ashfords' gala is this weekend, and we need to coordinate our appearances."
Ellis's gaze slid to Hana, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. "Ms. Adams, thank you for attending to Ms. Ashford. That will be all."
Dismissed, Hana fled the office, face burning. Back at her desk, she buried herself in work, trying to ignore the muffled sounds of conversation from behind the closed door.
"First time meeting the ice queen?" Joan asked quietly.
Hana looked up in surprise. "You don't like her either?"
Joan's expression remained neutral. "It's not my place to like or dislike Ms. Ashford. But I will say their engagement is... complicated."
"Seems pretty straightforward to me," Hana muttered. "They look perfect together."
"Perfect isn't always what it seems." Joan handed her a stack of reports. "Conference room three needs these sorted for the 3 PM meeting."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of productivity. Hana stayed late, partially to finish a presentation for Joan, partially to avoid any chance of running into Ellis and Victoria together. By nine PM, the executive floor was empty except for the occasional security guard making rounds.
Hana was gathering her things to leave when the elevator dinged. Ellis stepped out, looking exhausted, her usual perfect posture slightly slumped.
"You're still here," Ellis said, surprised.
"Just finishing up." Hana grabbed her bag, prepared to make a quick exit.
"Wait." Ellis's voice stopped her. "I want to explain. About Victoria."
"You don't owe me any explanations, Ms. Sterling."
"I think I do." Ellis ran a hand through her short hair, a surprisingly vulnerable gesture. "What Victoria implied..."
"That I'm one of many? That you collect women like trophies?" Hana couldn't keep the bitterness from her voice. "Message received, loud and clear."
"It's not like that."
"It doesn't matter what it's like." Hana moved toward the elevator. "You're engaged. What happened between us was a mistake. End of story."
Ellis caught her arm as she passed. "Is that really what you think?"
The contact sent electricity through Hana's body, igniting memories of their night together—Ellis's hands on her skin, her mouth leaving trails of fire. She pulled away sharply.
"What I think is that you should have mentioned your fiancée before taking me to bed," Hana said, hating how her voice trembled.
"I should have," Ellis admitted, the rare acknowledgment taking Hana by surprise. "But that night... I wasn't thinking clearly. You make it hard to think clearly."
"Don't." Hana stepped back. "Don't try to charm your way out of this."
"I'm not charming. I'm being honest." Ellis moved closer. "My relationship with Victoria is complicated. More business arrangement than love match."
"That doesn't make what happened okay."
"No, it doesn't," Ellis agreed quietly. "But it might explain why I can't stop thinking about you. Why I find myself looking for excuses to see you, even when I know I should keep my distance."
The words stirred something dangerous in Hana's chest. "Ellis, we can't—"
"I know." Ellis was close enough now that Hana could smell her perfume, that intoxicating scent that had haunted her dreams for two weeks. "Tell me to back off, and I will. Tell me you don't feel this... whatever this is between us, and I'll never mention it again."
Hana opened her mouth to say exactly that, to end whatever dangerous game they were playing. But the words wouldn't come. Instead, she found herself staring at Ellis's lips, remembering their taste, their softness.
"Damn it," Ellis muttered, and then her mouth was on Hana's.
The kiss was different from their first night—less alcohol-fueled, more deliberate. Ellis kissed her like she was something precious, one hand cupping Hana's face, the other sliding around her waist. Hana knew she should pull away, but her body had other ideas, melting into Ellis's embrace as if returning home.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Hana whispered, "We shouldn't."
"I know," Ellis said, but her hands were already working on the buttons of Hana's blouse. "Tell me to stop."
"I can't," Hana admitted, giving in to the need that had been building for days. "I don't want you to stop."
That was all the permission Ellis needed. She backed Hana against the desk, lifting her onto it with surprising strength. Papers scattered to the floor as Ellis positioned herself between Hana's legs, reclaiming her mouth in a kiss that left no doubt about her intentions.
"Not here," Hana gasped as Ellis's lips moved to her neck. "Someone could—"
"Everyone's gone," Ellis murmured against her skin. "Security won't come to this floor without calling first. We're alone."
To emphasize her point, Ellis reached behind Hana to press a button on the desk phone. "Joan, hold all calls and visitors until morning. I'm working late and don't want to be disturbed."
The automated voice confirmed the message was recorded. Ellis smiled wickedly. "See? Alone."
"You planned this," Hana accused, even as her body arched toward Ellis's touch.
"I hoped," Ellis corrected, sliding Hana's blouse from her shoulders. "There's a difference."
What followed made their first night seem tame by comparison. Ellis was both tender and demanding, taking Hana on the desk, against the wall, and finally on the plush leather sofa in her private office. Each time Hana thought she couldn't possibly take more pleasure, Ellis proved her wrong, drawing sounds from her that she'd never made before.
"You're beautiful like this," Ellis murmured as Hana shuddered through another climax, Ellis's fingers deep inside her. "I've thought about this every night since the club."
Afterward, as they lay tangled together on the sofa, reality began to seep back in. Hana sat up, reaching for her scattered clothes.
"This was a mistake," she said softly.
Ellis propped herself up on one elbow, watching Hana dress. "You keep saying that, yet here we are."
"It can't happen again." Hana buttoned her blouse with trembling fingers. "You're engaged, Ellis. To a woman who clearly knows about your... habits."
"Victoria and I have an understanding." Ellis stood, unself-conscious in her nakedness, retrieving her own clothes. "Our engagement is a business merger, not a love match. Theodore—my father—arranged it to unite Sterling Industries with Ashford International."
"That doesn't make this okay," Hana insisted, though her resolve was weakening at the sight of Ellis's body in the dim office lighting.
"No," Ellis agreed, pulling on her shirt. "But it might help you understand why I'm so drawn to you. With Victoria, everything is calculated, planned. With you..." She shook her head. "With you, I feel something real."
The words pierced Hana's chest like a physical pain. "Don't say things like that."
"Why not? It's the truth."
"Because it makes this harder." Hana gathered her things. "I need this internship, Ellis. I need the recommendation, the experience. I can't risk it all for... whatever this is."
Ellis caught her hand before she could leave. "What if I promised it wouldn't affect your position? That professionally, nothing would change?"
"Could you really separate the two?" Hana asked skeptically.
"I've managed more complicated situations."
"Like juggling multiple affairs?" The words came out sharper than Hana intended.
Ellis flinched, genuine hurt flashing across her face. "Is that what you think of me? That I'm some predatory boss collecting conquests?"
"I don't know what to think," Hana admitted. "I barely know you, Ellis."
"Then get to know me," Ellis said simply. "Not as your boss. Not as the CEO. Just as me."
The offer was tempting—dangerously so. But Hana shook her head. "I can't. There's too much at stake."
"For now," Ellis conceded, releasing her hand. "But this conversation isn't over, Hana. Whatever this is between us... it's not going away just because it's inconvenient."
As Hana rode the elevator down to the lobby, her body still humming from Ellis's touch, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was stepping onto a path that would change her life forever—for better or worse.
What she didn't see was Victoria watching from her car across the street as Hana left the building, noting the time—well past midnight—and the slightly disheveled state of her appearance. Victoria's perfectly manicured nails tapped a message into her phone:
You were right. Sterling's found a new plaything. The intern. Let's proceed with the plan.