Claimed By Desire

Glitch.

Amara.

I arrived at Thorne Enterprises at 6:47 AM.

Thirteen minutes early, clutching a coffee that had gone cold during my subway ride and wearing the most professional outfit I owned—a charcoal gray suit that screamed "I am not here for games." My hair was pulled back in a severe bun, my makeup minimal, and I'd deliberately chosen nude lipstick.

The red lipstick comment from yesterday had haunted my dreams in ways I refused to analyze.

The lobby was eerily quiet at this hour, with only security guards and a few early-rising executives moving through the marble expanse.

The same intimidating atmosphere from yesterday felt even more pronounced in the pre-dawn darkness, like the building itself was holding its breath.

Ms. Chen was already at her desk when the elevator doors opened on the 77th floor, looking impossibly put-together for someone who'd probably been here since 6 AM.

"Good morning, Miss Williams. Punctual as expected." She handed me a tablet and a sleek phone. "Your work devices. Mr. Thorne is in an international call but asked me to show you to your office."

My office.

The words should have filled me with pride, but instead, they made my stomach flutter with anticipation I didn't want to feel.

She led me past Lucien's imposing double doors to a smaller entrance I hadn't noticed yesterday.

The office beyond was gorgeous—floor-to-ceiling windows, modern furniture, and a view that most people would kill for. But what made my breath catch was the glass wall that separated my space from his.

Completely transparent. No blinds. No privacy.

"Mr. Thorne believes in open communication," Ms. Chen said, noticing my stare. "You'll find he values... transparency in all his working relationships."

Through the glass, I could see him pacing behind his desk, phone pressed to his ear, gesturing with his free hand. Even from here, even in profile, he commanded attention.

His suit was impeccably tailored, his movements fluid and predatory.

As if sensing my gaze, he turned.

Our eyes met through the glass, and that familiar heat shot through me like lightning.

He didn't smile, didn't nod—just looked at me with an intensity that made my knees weak. Then he turned back to his call, dismissing me as easily as he'd captured me.

"Your first task," Ms. Chen continued, either oblivious to what had just happened or professionally trained to ignore it, "is to organize Mr. Thorne's calendar for the next month. Everything is on the tablet. He'll brief you on additional responsibilities when his call ends."

She left me alone in my glass prison.

I spent the next hour trying to focus on spreadsheets and appointment scheduling, but it was impossible to concentrate with Lucien visible in my peripheral vision.

Every movement he made seemed deliberately calculated to draw my attention—the way he loosened his tie, rolled up his sleeves, ran his fingers through his dark hair.

This was going to be torture.

At exactly 8 AM, my desk phone buzzed.

"Miss Williams, please come in. And bring the Morrison files."

His voice through the intercom sent shivers down my spine. Professional, I reminded myself. You are a professional.

I gathered the files and walked to his office, knock twice on the glass door even though he could clearly see me coming.

"Enter."

His office smelled like him—that same dark, earthy scent that had made my head spin yesterday. He was standing behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, revealing forearms that had no business being that distracting.

"The Morrison acquisition," he said without preamble, gesturing to the chair across from his desk. "I need you to review the contracts and highlight any clauses that seem... unusual."

I sat down, crossing my legs and opening the file. "What kind of unusual?"

"You'll know it when you see it."

Helpful.

For the next thirty minutes, we worked in relative silence. I read through dense legal documents while he made notes on other papers, occasionally glancing up to find him watching me with that unsettling intensity.

"This clause here," I said finally, pointing to a section about territorial rights. "It's oddly specific about land boundaries and... pack structures? That's unusual terminology for a corporate acquisition."

Something flashed in his eyes—approval, maybe, or something darker.

"Good catch. What else?" he asked calmly.

"There's language about 'alpha approval' for certain decisions. I've never seen that in a business contract."

He leaned back in his chair, studying me. "And what do you think it means?"

"Honestly? It reads like some kind of... hierarchy system. Like there's a chain of command that goes beyond typical corporate structure."

"Clever girl."

The way he said it—low, almost possessive—made heat pool in my stomach. This was dangerous territory, but I couldn't seem to stop myself from engaging.

"Is there something I should know about how this company operates, Mr. Thorne?"

He stood up, moving around the desk with that fluid grace that reminded me of something wild. "There are many things you should know, Miss Williams. But knowledge comes with time... and trust."

He stopped beside my chair, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. Close enough to smell that intoxicating scent that made my blood sing.

"For now, just know that loyalty is highly valued here. And disloyalty..." He paused, his hand coming to rest on the back of my chair. "Has consequences."

I should have been intimidated. Should have reminded him about professional boundaries and appropriate workplace behavior.

Instead, I found myself looking up at him, pulse racing, completely caught in his gravitational pull.

"I understand," I whispered.

"Do you?"

Before I could answer, my work phone buzzed on his desk where I'd left it. The screen lit up, and suddenly there was sound—low, masculine groaning, and a voice that sounded distinctly like...

"Oh God, yes... just like that..."

My eyes went wide. The voice was Lucien's, unmistakably, caught in what sounded like an intensely intimate moment.

I lunged for the phone, face burning with embarrassment, but Lucien was faster. His hand closed over mine on the device, trapping my fingers against the warm glass.

"I'm so sorry," he said, but his voice was calm, controlled. "There seems to be some kind of technical glitch. My personal files sometimes sync accidentally with the company servers."

The audio was still playing—breathy gasps and words that made my entire body flush with heat. I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip held firm.

"Please," I managed, not sure if I was asking him to let go or to never stop touching me.

"It should stop in a moment," he murmured, his thumb tracing across my knuckles. "These things happen with new accounts."

Finally, mercifully, the audio cut off. But he didn't let go of my hand immediately. Instead, he lifted it slightly, his fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture that felt far too intimate for an office.

"Are you alright, Miss Williams? You look... flushed."

I yanked my hand free, standing up so quickly that my chair rolled backward.

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine. Just... surprised."

"Of course." His lips curved into something that might have been a smile. "Technology can be so unpredictable."

But there was nothing unpredictable in his eyes. They were calculating, satisfied, like a predator who'd successfully cornered his prey.

"Perhaps you should take an early lunch," he suggested. "Clear your head. We have a long afternoon ahead of us."

I grabbed my phone and the Morrison files, practically fleeing his office. Back in my glass box, I slumped into my chair and tried to steady my breathing.

What the hell was that?

Technical glitch, my ass. Nothing about Lucien Thorne seemed accidental. But why would he want me to hear... that? And why did my body react like I'd been the one touching him instead of just listening?

I stared at my phone, half expecting it to start playing inappropriate audio again. Instead, the screen showed a text notification from an unknown number:

"Forgive the interruption. Sometimes desire finds a way to make itself known. - L"

My hands shook as I read it. This wasn't a glitch. This was deliberate.

This was seduction.

And God help me, it was working.

I looked up to find Lucien watching me through the glass wall, that predatory smile still playing at his lips. When our eyes met, he lifted his coffee mug in a mock toast, like he was celebrating a victory.

I was in serious trouble.

And the most terrifying part? I wasn't sure I wanted to escape.