Trouble has a name

(Zara) Two days had passed since I left the mansion, and I still caught myself thinking about the man who lived there. I hadn't told anyone except Mia, who had asked enough questions to last a lifetime. Saturday disappeared between unanswered calls from Ryan and a long conversation with my sister. Sunday I cleaned my apartment because sitting still gave me too much time to remember his kisses. Now it was Monday, and I had a new job to worry about. I stood in front of my mirror wearing the navy suit I'd bought for my first day at Wolfe Enterprises. My hair was pulled into a low bun, and the wig and glasses from Friday were hidden in my closet. I wanted to look confident, even if I didn't feel it. This job meant I could finally stop worrying about every bill that arrived. My phone rang while I searched for my keys. Ryan again. I rejected the call and picked up my bag. He'd had plenty of chances to tell me the truth before I found him with Chloe. I wasn't interested in another excuse. Today belonged to me, and I refused to let him ruin it. I arrived twenty minutes early and sat in my car outside the office building. Wolfe Enterprises occupied several floors of a glass tower that made my nerves worse just by looking at it. I'd worked hard to get this position, surviving two interviews and a presentation that had taken me days to prepare. I wasn't going to mess it up. Inside, the receptionist checked my identification and directed me toward the elevators. I was studying the numbers above the doors when a woman approached with a tablet. She wore a gray blazer and looked friendly enough to make me relax a little. She stopped in front of me. "Zara Morgan?" "That's me." "I'm Priya, the HR coordinator. I'll help you get settled." "Thank you. I was starting to wonder if I'd come to the wrong floor." She laughed. "Not yet. Come with me." We entered the elevator, and Priya explained the onboarding schedule. I'd meet the marketing team, collect my badge, and sit in on a leadership meeting. The last part caught my attention. I hadn't expected to meet senior management so soon. "The CEO might be there," she added. "On my first day?" "Mr. Wolfe likes to know what's happening with major projects. Don't worry, you won't be giving a speech." I smiled, although my nerves returned immediately. I'd heard plenty about Sebastian Wolfe before applying for the job. He was young, wealthy, and known for demanding excellent work. The thought of meeting him was intimidating enough without remembering the stranger I'd spent Friday with. For one ridiculous second, I imagined the man from the mansion working here. I dismissed it immediately. There were plenty of wealthy men in the city, and I hadn't even asked what he did for a living. Besides, what were the chances? Priya led me down a hallway lined with offices and stopped outside a conference room. Several people were seated around a long table, talking while someone presented figures on a screen. I adjusted my jacket and checked that my bag was closed. I wanted to make a good impression. "They're finishing up," Priya explained. "We'll go in when there's a break." The door opened before I could answer. A man stepped out and reached for a folder on a nearby table. I noticed his suit, then the familiar face above the collar. My mind refused to accept what my eyes were telling me. He turned toward us and stopped. It was him. The stranger from the bar. The man whose bed I'd left before sunrise. I wanted the floor to open beneath me. He looked just as surprised, although he recovered much faster than I did. His gaze moved from my face to the badge hanging from my jacket. Then his attention returned to my eyes. "You two know each other?" Priya asked. "No," I said. "We've met," he answered at the same time. I wanted to kick him. Priya glanced between us. "Oh. Well, Mr. Wolfe, this is Zara Morgan, our new marketing coordinator." Mr. Wolfe. Sebastian Wolfe. My new boss. I looked at him again, praying I'd misunderstood. But Priya was waiting for a response, and he was standing there looking like he owned the building. Because apparently, he did. I'd spent Friday in the mansion of the man who now controlled my career. "Welcome to Wolfe Enterprises, Ms. Morgan," he said. He held out his hand as though we were meeting for the first time. I stared at it for a second before remembering that Priya was watching. I shook his hand and tried to keep my expression normal. His fingers remained around mine just long enough to make me nervous. "Thank you, Mr. Wolfe." "Sebastian," he said, then glanced at Priya. "Bring the new hires in when the meeting ends. I'd like to meet them personally." "Of course, sir." He looked at me again. "Enjoy your first day, Zara." I managed a nod before he returned to the conference room. Through the glass, I watched him take his seat and resume talking as though nothing had happened. I couldn't understand how he could look so composed. I was considering whether changing my name and moving to another country was an option. Priya leaned toward me. "That was unusual." "What was?" "He doesn't normally meet new hires himself. Maybe your interview impressed someone." "Maybe," I said, wishing she'd stop looking at me. She turned back to her tablet, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Sebastian knew my real name now, and I knew his. Worse, he knew exactly what we'd done before either of us realized we'd be working together. If anyone found out, would they believe I'd earned this job? I looked through the glass again. Sebastian was listening to another manager, but his eyes found mine across the room. He didn't smile. Somehow, that made everything worse. I'd left a note telling him not to miss me too much. Now I had to walk into his meeting and pretend we'd never met.