"Complete project report, plus backup on USB." She handed me the folder. "Want me to come with you?"
"No." I took the folder. "You stay and handle things here."
"Be careful then." Anna squeezed my hand, trying to give me strength. "If anything goes wrong, call me right away."
"I will."
An hour and a half later, the car dropped me off at Blue Note Café.
I did one last makeup check, made sure all materials were in order, and gave myself a quiet pep talk.
"You've got this, Layla. This is your turf."
I put on my polished, perfect smile and pushed open the door. The café smelled of coffee beans, soft jazz flowing through the air. My gaze swept the space, searching for an unfamiliar face.
Then—
A tall man sat by the window in a perfectly tailored charcoal three-piece suit. Sunlight streamed through the window, dancing in his silver eyes. He held a coffee cup, casually flipping through documents. At the sound of the door, he looked up. His lips slowly curved into a smile.
"Miss Ross." He set down his cup and stood, walking toward me with measured, predatory steps. "Right on time. Very good."
I stood frozen, clutching the folder. All my prepared professional smiles and polite phrases stuck in my throat.
Kayden Blackwood.
My new boss.
Fuck my life.
"You..." My voice shook. "How could you..."
"Please, sit." Kayden wore a polite but distant smile, as if he really were treating me like a first-time business contact. "We have much to discuss." But his eyes betrayed him. Those silver eyes burned with something scorching and dangerous.
Finally, when I realized that every single one of my problems traced back to this bastard, the string called reason snapped completely.
"You stalker!" I found my voice, anger flooding my face with heat. "Last night at the hospital, now buying out Lucas's company... Kayden Blackwood, are you insane?!"
My voice came out louder than intended. Several customers in the café turned to look.
But I didn't care.
I pointed at him, my finger trembling. "What the hell do you want?!"
Kayden didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled slowly, pleased, with a hint of triumph.
"There she is." He remarked leisurely. "Compared to that ice-cold 'Ella Ross,' I much prefer you like this."
My face instantly burned. "You..."
"Let's discuss your project." Kayden sat back down, elegantly lifting his coffee cup for a sip, gesturing for me to proceed. "After all, I'm your boss now."
I took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm my racing heart.
Stay cool. This is your job. Think about the one-point-eight million.
"You're despicable," I said quietly, but still walked over and sat across from him, slamming the folder onto the table.
This was what he wanted, wasn't it? Using his wealth, his power to trap me here.
