Chapter 1 - The Comment He Was Never Supposed to Hear
The keyboard under Bella Morgan’s fingers had been sticky since she spilled coffee on it at seven that morning.
By three in the afternoon, every keystroke made a faint tacky sound that seemed designed specifically to test what remained of her patience.
Bella leaned back in her chair and rubbed the base of her neck.
Nine hours.
She had been sitting outside Blake Caruso’s office for nine hours, working through contracts, schedules, security reports, expense summaries, and three separate emergencies that apparently could not be solved by anyone in Caruso Holdings without first passing through her desk.
Her shoulders burned.
Her eyes felt dry.
Her lower back had begun sending formal complaints.
And her boss had not once asked whether she had eaten lunch.
That was Blake Caruso.
Thirty-two years old.
CEO of Caruso Holdings.
Owner of enough real estate to make city councilmen nervous.
And, according to rumors Bella had learned never to repeat aloud, the man at the center of an empire that extended far beyond anything listed on a corporate tax return.
Eight months earlier, Bella had accepted the position because she needed the money.
She had known Blake had a reputation.
She simply hadn’t realized reputations could walk into rooms, silence twenty people without speaking, and make grown men reconsider their life choices with one look.
“Miss Morgan.”
His voice came through the intercom.
Bella straightened automatically.
“My office.”
No please.
No explanation.
Classic Blake.
Bella saved the spreadsheet on her screen, smoothed her champagne-colored blouse, grabbed the Castiano folders, and walked toward the heavy black doors separating her desk from Blake’s private office.
She knocked once.
“Come in.”
Afternoon sunlight poured through the enormous windows behind him.
Blake sat at his desk wearing an immaculate black suit, black shirt, and black tie. His dark hair was pushed neatly away from his forehead, though one stubborn wave had fallen forward.
His attention remained on the papers before him.
“The Castiano contracts.”
“Signed this morning.”
Bella placed the folders on his desk.
“Marco Castiano’s attorney attempted to renegotiate the waterfront terms. I reminded him that doing so would activate the termination clause from the previous agreement.”
Blake finally looked up.
“And?”
“He suddenly remembered how much he liked the original deal.”
The corner of Blake’s mouth moved.
That tiny almost-smile was the closest thing Bella usually received to praise.
“Good.”
He opened the folder.
“The other matter?”
“Red folder. Left side of your desk.”
Blake glanced toward it.
Bella continued.
“Three confirmed sightings near the docks. Two approaches to restaurant managers connected to Caruso Holdings. And Vincent Romano met privately with Councilman Harris yesterday evening.”
Blake’s eyes returned to her.
“You’ve read the surveillance reports?”
“I organized them.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Bella held his gaze.
“Yes.”
Something unreadable crossed his face.
Most employees avoided Blake’s eyes when he used that tone.
Bella had learned doing so only encouraged him.
“Should I be concerned,” he asked, “that my secretary has better intelligence than some members of my security team?”
“Your security team gathers the intelligence. I simply arrange it so you don’t waste forty minutes finding the important parts.”
A pause.
Then another almost-smile.
Bella relaxed slightly.
“Anything else?” Blake asked.
“Bryce finished the preliminary security assessment for the new property. Full report by tonight.”
Blake stopped turning the page.
“Bryce stopped by?”
Bella didn’t immediately notice the change.
“Yes. Around noon.”
Blake slowly leaned back.
Bryce Dalton was Blake’s head of security.
Tall.
Athletic.
Polite.
And, unlike most men working around Blake, Bryce occasionally smiled.
“What did you think of his visit?” Blake asked.
Bella frowned.
“His visit?”
“Bryce.”
“He delivered his assessment.”
“And?”
“And the building is secure.”
Blake studied her.
Bella shifted the folders against her chest.
“He seemed very thorough.”
“Very thorough.”
“Yes.”
“Professional?”
“Yes.”
“Competent?”
“Very.”
Something about Blake’s expression should have warned her.
Unfortunately, exhaustion had destroyed the part of Bella’s brain responsible for self-preservation.
“He’s so handsome, too, isn’t he?”
Silence.
Bella froze.
Why had she said that?
Why?
Of every thought that had passed through her exhausted brain, why had that one escaped?
Blake didn’t move.
Bella felt heat creeping into her cheeks.
“I mean objectively.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Objectively.”
“Yes.”
She desperately attempted to repair the damage.
“Symmetrical features.”
Blake stared at her.
Bella wanted the floor to open beneath her.
Instead, Blake slowly stood.
“Symmetrical features.”
His voice had become frighteningly soft.
Bella swallowed.
“Mr. Caruso, it was simply an observation.”
“Apparently a memorable one.”
He walked around the desk.
Bella remained where she was.
Running would probably make it worse.
“You find my head of security attractive.”
“I said he was handsome.”
“I heard you.”
“Then why are we repeating it?”
Blake stopped.
Bella immediately wished she could pull those words back into her mouth.
“Careful.”
One word.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Bella lowered her voice.
“I apologize. The comment was unprofessional.”
Blake moved closer.
His expensive cologne carried hints of leather and spice.
“You’re apologizing because you think I’m angry.”
“Aren’t you?”
“No.”
That answer somehow frightened her more.
Bella lifted an eyebrow.
“You look angry.”
“I’m thinking.”
“That usually looks less homicidal on normal people.”
Blake’s jaw tightened.
Bella closed her eyes for half a second.
“Sorry.”
“Do you always say whatever enters your mind when you’re tired?”
“Apparently today I do.”
“And what exactly entered your mind when Bryce was standing at your desk?”
Bella stared at him.
Was Blake Caruso actually jealous?
Impossible.
She was his secretary.
Nothing more.
“I thought he was attractive,” she admitted. “For approximately three seconds. Then I returned to work.”
Blake’s expression darkened.
“Three seconds.”
“You cannot possibly be upset about three seconds.”
“I’m not upset.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep misunderstanding me.”
Bella crossed her arms.
“Then explain.”
For the first time, Blake seemed genuinely surprised.
People did not order Blake Caruso to explain himself.
But Bella was tired.
Hungry.
And increasingly irritated.
Blake stepped closer.
“You spend enough time around dangerous men, Bella. I would prefer you not become interested in one.”
She blinked.
“Bryce works for you.”
“Exactly.”
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
“It doesn’t need to.”
“To you, perhaps.”
His eyes sharpened.
“You’re becoming dangerously comfortable arguing with me.”
“And you’re becoming dangerously comfortable telling me who I’m allowed to find attractive.”
Silence.
Bella realized what she had said.
Again.
Blake looked down at her.
Then something changed in his expression.
The anger disappeared.
What replaced it was worse.
Interest.
Intense, unmistakable interest.
“Fine,” he murmured.
“Fine?”
“You want professional boundaries?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.”
Blake returned to his desk.
Bella released the breath she had been holding.
Then he said, “You’re promoted.”
Bella stared at him.
“What?”
“Effective tomorrow morning, you’re no longer my secretary.”
Her stomach dropped.
For one terrifying second, she thought she had been fired.
“You’re my personal assistant.”
Bella blinked.
“That sounds suspiciously like the same job.”
“It isn’t.”
He sat down.
“You’ll attend every meeting I attend. You’ll accompany me to every property inspection, negotiation, business dinner, and trip requiring administrative support.”
Bella’s mouth slowly opened.
“Trip?”
“Chicago next week. Miami after that.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Europe next month.”
“You cannot be serious.”
“I rarely joke.”
“That’s not a promotion. That’s surveillance.”
Blake’s mouth curved.
“Interesting choice of word.”
“You just spent five minutes interrogating me because I called Bryce handsome, and now suddenly you want me beside you twenty-four hours a day?”
“Not twenty-four.”
“How generous.”
“You’ll sleep eventually.”
Bella stared at him.
Then Blake added, “Double salary.”
She stopped.
“Double?”
“Plus travel expenses.”
Bella hated that her financial instincts immediately began doing calculations.
Blake noticed.
Of course he noticed.
“You’re considering it.”
“I’m considering whether putting up with you is worth that much money.”
His almost-smile returned.
“And?”
Bella exhaled.
“I’ll think about it.”
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“No?”
“You’ll give me an answer now.”
Bella looked at him for several long seconds.
“Fine.”
“Fine what?”
“I accept.”
Blake leaned back.
“Good.”
Bella turned toward the door.
“Bella.”
She stopped.
He almost never used her first name.
She looked over her shoulder.
Blake’s expression had become completely serious.
“Stay away from Bryce.”
Bella stared at him.
“That sounds very much like an order.”
“It is.”
“That’s inappropriate.”
“Probably.”
“At least you admit it.”
She reached for the door.
Then Blake spoke again.
“Six tomorrow morning.”
Bella groaned.
“You’re doubling my salary because you’re stealing my sleep, aren’t you?”
“Perhaps.”
She left without answering.
The second the office door closed, Bella leaned against her desk.
Her heart was beating too fast.
She told herself it was anger.
It had to be.
Blake Caruso was controlling, intimidating, arrogant, and impossible.
And yet when he had stepped close enough for her to feel his breath—
No.
Absolutely not.
Bella dropped into her chair.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
Welcome to your new position. Don’t be late tomorrow. —BC
Bella stared toward Blake’s closed office.
“How did he even get my private number?”
Another message appeared.
And stop staring at my door.
Bella’s eyes widened.
She looked around.
A security camera sat discreetly in the corner.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Her phone buzzed again.
This time the message wasn’t from Blake.
It was from Bryce.
Bella, don’t come in tomorrow. I need to tell you something about Blake before he takes you to that Castiano meeting. Something you deserve to know.
Bella’s smile disappeared.
She read it twice.
Then a third time.
Before she could reply, another message arrived.
Whatever you do, don’t tell Blake I contacted you.
Bella slowly lifted her eyes toward the closed office door.
For the first time that afternoon, Blake’s jealousy was no longer the thing frightening her.
It was the possibility that Bryce knew exactly why Blake suddenly wanted her at his side.
And whatever that reason was—
May you like
Blake clearly didn’t want her to know.
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