TRAPPED BY DESIRE

PAST ARRANGEMENTS

The spacious meeting room buzzed with low murmurs and casual laughter as the board of directors engaged in quiet conversation among themselves.

Erin stood rigidly in one corner of the room, his eyes scanning Roman's digital schedule while completely ignoring the room's high-profile occupants.

He glanced down at his watch, noting there were only two minutes left before the meeting was due to begin, yet Roman was still nowhere to be seen.

At precisely nine o'clock, the heavy doors swung open, and Roman entered, flanked by his secretary. The meeting room instantly fell silent, his commanding presence demanding everyone's absolute attention the moment his frame crossed the threshold.

He settled smoothly into his leather seat at the head of the long mahogany table.

"Shall we begin?" Roman asked, foregoing any polite pleasantries.

The CFO, a poised young woman in her late twenties, cleared her throat before promptly beginning the quarterly financial overview. She gestured toward the glowing projector screen behind her.

"Since the launch of the new product line, we've observed an impressive five percent increase in total profits..."

"You mean 5.9," Roman interjected, casually spinning a sleek silver pen between his fingers without looking up.

The woman glanced back at the presentation slide, which clearly displayed a flat five percent increase, before returning her steady gaze to Roman.

"It's actually five percent, Mr. Ashford," she corrected politely. Her eyes then drifted down, locking onto the sharp crimson lipstick mark staining his crisp collar. "Though I believe you have something right here."

She lightly gestured toward her own neck with a subtle smile, her white teeth on display.

"Your responsibility is to present an accurate and comprehensive report on this company's financial performance," Roman replied coldly, his expression remaining completely unchanged. "Not to comment on my personal attire."

The woman's smile only widened at his icy tone.

"Of course, Mr. Ashford," she replied smoothly, adjusting her notes. "And that is precisely what I was doing."

She redirected her attention back to the presentation screen as though the tense interaction had never happened.

The remaining board members exchanged uneasy glances, clearly taken aback by her sheer audacity. Very few people would ever dare speak to Roman in such a manner. Either the woman was an arrogant fool who didn't know her place, or she was a remarkably brave one.

A devilish smirk tugged at the corner of Roman's lips as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wooden table with his fingers loosely interlocked.

"Mr. Anthony appointed you to this position, correct?" Roman asked, though the words sounded more like a cold statement than an actual question.

"Yes," she answered without a single hint of hesitation.

Roman rose from his seat, buttoning his jacket.

"This board meeting is adjourned until the Chief Financial Officer can present an accurate review of this company's financial performance."

Without sparing anyone another glance, he walked out of the room, his secretary and Erin following closely behind his retreating figure.

******

After her final class concluded, Alana stepped out of the lecture hall feeling utterly spent. She made a quick stop at the restroom to freshen up her makeup before heading outside to the sidewalk to hail a cab.

As she waited by the roadside, someone called her name from behind. She dismissed it at first, assuming the stranger was simply calling someone else who happened to share her name.

"Alana."

The voice came again, this time sounding much closer.

She turned around, surprise flickering across her face before it quickly melted into genuine delight at the sight of the familiar man standing behind her. A tall, broad-shouldered, sharp-jawed man smiled down at her.

"Oh my God... Troy!" she exclaimed, unable to hide the sudden excitement in her voice.

"I never imagined I'd run into you here in New York," Troy said, offering a warm smile. "You've changed since we last met. Your hair has grown quite a bit, and it really suits you."

A faint blush crept onto Alana's cheeks, the warmth catching her off guard. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Thank you."

"I'm actually on my way to meet someone right now," Troy said, pulling a sleek phone from his pocket. "Can I get your number so we can catch up another time?"

"Sure."

Alana accepted the phone from his hand, quickly typed in her digits, and handed it back to him.

After saving her contact into his address book, Troy slipped the device back into his pocket.

"I'll text you later."

She nodded, a small smile lighting up her features.

"I'll be waiting."

Troy gave her one last smile before turning and walking away down the busy street.

Alana remained rooted to the spot, her eyes following his broad back until his figure completely disappeared into the crowded sidewalk, a distant look settling over her face.

She had once been legally arranged to marry Troy when she turned twenty. Until two years ago.

Her mother had abruptly called off the entire engagement, insisting the union was no longer what she wanted for the family's future.

The life-altering decision had been made solely by her mother and her stepfather, without ever consulting her.

She could still remember the overwhelming fury that had consumed her the exact night she found out they had bartered away her choice.