CECILIA'S POV
Mondays were not meant for glamor. Mondays were for coffee spills, missed buses, and regretting life choices. But here I was—strutting into Hartford Corp in my killer navy pencil skirt and heels so sharp they could slice egos. I was a walking contradiction. A woman who barely had her life together, yet somehow looked like she owned the whole floor.
The whispers started as soon as I entered the office.
"She's the one, right? The CEO's… new favorite?"
I pretended not to hear, kept my chin up, and marched to my desk like I wasn't internally screaming.
Was it the silk blouse? The lip gloss? The fact that Samuel—freaking—Hartford had driven me home last week and hugged me like he was saying goodbye to oxygen?
My heart fluttered just thinking about that moment. But no. No fluttering. We were coworkers. Sort of. I worked in PR. He was the CEO. Also my son's father. And maybe, just maybe, still the man I dreamed about when no one was looking.
But I had a job to do, and swooning wasn't in the HR-approved job description.
"Morning, boss lady," my colleague Tara smirked, handing me a stack of reports. "Samuel asked for you. He's in his office. Alone. Looking very… broody."
I rolled my eyes. "Let's not start."
"Oh, honey," Tara winked. "It already started."
I smoothed my skirt, straightened my shoulders, and made my way to the top floor.
SAMUEL'S POV
I wasn't brooding. I was… processing. Processing the fact that I might have drooled on the company napkins last Friday when Cecilia walked into that restaurant like Aphrodite had taken a crash course in fashion.
And then she left me hanging with a kiss that ended too soon and a "Thanks, I'm going home now" like I'd just returned a library book instead of poured my heart out.
"She's playing hard to get," I muttered, swirling my coffee. "Which would be fine if I wasn't completely losing my mind over her."
I'd barely had time to sit when my assistant buzzed.
"Mr. Hartford, Cecilia is on her way up."
I shot up from my desk like a teenager caught watching rom-coms. Straightened my tie. Checked my breath. Sat back down and pretended to read the quarterly earnings report upside down.
The door creaked open.
And there she was.
Wearing that same I'm-too-professional-for-you expression and carrying a file like she might hit me with it if I so much as blinked the wrong way.
"Good morning," she said coolly.
"Morning," I replied, trying not to stare.
"You asked for me?"
Right. I had.
"Uh, yes." I cleared my throat. "I wanted to go over the social media campaign for the GreenTech merger."
She arched a brow. "You read the report I submitted yesterday?"
I absolutely had not. "Thoroughly."
She dropped the file on my desk. "Then why are you holding it upside down?"
Busted.
She smirked.
I wanted to kiss her right then and there.
CECILIA'S POV
Watching Samuel squirm was now my favorite pastime. I'd gone to that dinner last week prepared to reject him coldly. But then he had to go and be all… sincere. And charming. And annoyingly handsome.
But I wasn't going to let him know he still had that effect on me.
Not yet.
"So," he said, leaning back in his chair. "How's Leo?"
My heart softened. "He's great. He tried to fry eggs yesterday and nearly burned down the kitchen. You'd be proud."
He chuckled. "That's my boy."
Something in his smile made my stomach flip. Not fair. I was supposed to be in control.
"Anything else?" I asked, standing up a little too quickly.
He stood too. "Actually, yes. I… wanted to apologize again. For the way I acted. I was wrong. I should've believed you from the start."
I paused. Genuine remorse shimmered in his eyes.
"I know," I said softly.
"And I'd like to make it up to you. Take you out again. Properly this time."
"I don't know, Samuel…"
"I'll wear a tux. I'll bring flowers. I'll even let you order the lobster."
I tried not to smile. I failed.
"Fine. One dinner. That's it."
SAMUEL'S POV
Best. Day. Ever.
Until I got in the elevator.
It was full—sales guys, interns, a couple of marketing girls. I squeezed in just before the doors closed, barely noticed by the group already mid-conversation.
"Did you hear about Cecilia?"
"Which one? The PR one with the legs?"
"That's the one. She's totally seducing the CEO."
My jaw clenched.
"No way. You think she's that kind of girl?"
"I mean… why else would she get promoted so fast?"
"Maybe she's just good at her job?" one brave soul offered.
Laughter.
"Please. I saw him holding her coffee the other day."
My eye twitched.
"She's probably got him wrapped around her little finger."
"Wouldn't you, if you looked like that?"
When the elevator dinged and I stepped out, the group went silent. Like a movie. Or a horror scene.
"Morning," I said with a smile so cold it could freeze lava.
Dead. Silence.
I strode out like nothing happened, but fury boiled inside me. How dare they talk about her like that? About the woman raising my son, working her butt off, and somehow managing to be the strongest person in every room?
I wasn't letting this slide.
CECILIA'S POV
When I got the email, I thought it was a mistake.
MANDATORY COMPANY-WIDE MEETING – 2 PM – BOARDROOM A
Was someone getting fired? Promoted? Were we all getting replaced by robots?
Turns out, none of the above.
Samuel stood at the front of the room, cool and collected.
"I've called this meeting," he began, "because I believe in a respectful workplace."
Oh, no.
He wasn't.
He was.
"I've heard rumors. Gossip. Remarks about one of our staff members. Remarks that are not only untrue but completely inappropriate."
The room shifted. Eyes flicked to me. I swallowed hard.
"If anyone has questions about how Cecilia earned her role here, they're welcome to come to my office—where I'll hand them a detailed copy of her achievements, credentials, and a formal warning for unprofessional conduct."
Tara elbowed me. "He's defending your honor. This is some Bridgerton-level drama."
I wanted to crawl under the table and die. But also… I kind of wanted to kiss him.
When the meeting ended, he passed by me with a subtle glance.
"You okay?" he mouthed.
I nodded, heart pounding.
SAMUEL'S POV
She was worth the gossip, the stares, the awkward elevator rides. She was worth every single uncomfortable moment because Cecilia wasn't just the mother of my child—she was the woman I was falling in love with all over again.
And this time, I wouldn't mess it up.