The boss’s son

Chapter One Diana pressed her fingers against her temples, willing the tension to disappear. Today had been one of those days—the kind that drained every ounce of patience she had. Between dealing with last-minute client demands and an overbearing boss who never seemed satisfied, she was at her limit. That was why she was here, sitting alone in a dimly lit bar, nursing a late-afternoon coffee instead of something stronger. She never drank when she was frustrated. Alcohol had a way of loosening control, and if there was one thing Diana valued above all else, it was control. The café-bar hybrid offered just the right level of noise—enough chatter to drown out her thoughts, but not enough to be overwhelming. She exhaled, letting the steam from her coffee rise and warm her face, forcing herself to relax. And then, he walked in. Diana didn’t have to look up to know exactly what type of man he was. The expensive cologne, the crisp designer suit, the self-assured stride—it all screamed money and entitlement. She’d met his kind before. They always expected attention, always assumed they were the most interesting person in the room. She ignored him, taking a slow sip of her coffee, pretending he didn’t exist. But, of course, men like him never knew how to take a hint. A chair scraped against the floor, and then a voice—smooth, practiced, cocky. “Hey, beautiful. Care if I join you?” She finally looked up. Dark eyes, neatly styled hair, and a smirk that oozed overconfidence. He wasn’t unattractive, but his energy was all wrong. He carried himself like a man who expected the world to say yes to him. “I’d actually love to sit alone, if you don’t mind,” she said, her voice polite but firm. He hesitated, as if debating whether or not to take her rejection seriously. Then he laughed, sliding into the seat across from her anyway. “You wound me,” he said, placing a hand over his chest dramatically. “What’s a guy gotta do to get a name around here?” Diana exhaled sharply, already regretting coming here. “Take a hint.” He grinned, completely unfazed. “If you won’t tell me your name, I’ll just call you Beauty.” How original. She rolled her eyes. “How about calling me ‘Uninterested’ instead?” His smile faltered for a second before he leaned back in his chair, studying her. “Apparently, you haven’t taken a good look at me.” “I’ve seen enough.” His jaw tightened, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of frustration in his eyes. He wasn’t used to hearing ‘no.’ “Fine, whatever. I don’t need you anyway,” he muttered, standing abruptly. He bumped against the table as he stormed off, nearly knocking over her coffee. Diana barely contained a sigh of relief. But then… she felt it. A presence. The distinct, prickling sensation of being watched. She turned her head slightly, scanning the room until her gaze landed on him. Unlike the arrogant stranger who had just left, this man sat a few tables away, completely at ease. He wasn’t watching her like he wanted to be noticed. He simply observed, his expression unreadable. And yet, something about him held her captive. He was… breathtaking. Sharp jawline, dark tousled hair, piercing eyes that held something enigmatic. He had the air of a man who didn’t need to prove himself. While his friend had been loud and showy, this one was quiet, controlled. The kind of man who knew he didn’t need words to leave an impression. Just as she was about to look away, he did something unexpected. He motioned to the bartender. A brief exchange. A nod. A moment later, the bartender walked over to her. “The gentleman over there took care of your bill,” he said with a small smile. “And he left a generous tip.” Diana blinked. “What?” “He also left a message.” The bartender slid a small card onto the table. She hesitated before flipping it over. Return the favor. Diana’s gaze snapped back to him. But he was already standing, sliding his phone into his pocket as he prepared to leave. She should have felt annoyed. She hated favors she didn’t ask for. And she definitely didn’t like men who played games. Yet, something about him unsettled her in a way that had nothing to do with irritation. Before she could stop herself, she grabbed the card and slipped it into her bag. That night, Diana lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to stop thinking about him. She wasn’t going to call. Absolutely not. Men like him—wealthy, composed, mysterious—always had an agenda. And she had no interest in being part of it. But she could still picture the way he’d looked at her. Calm. Confident. Like he already knew she’d call. Her fingers hovered over the number. One night. One moment of recklessness before she returned to her normal, controlled life. She tapped the screen, watching as the call rang once—then abruptly ended it. What was she thinking? She groaned, tossing her phone onto the bed. A minute passed. Two. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed the phone again and called her best friend. The line barely rang before Maya picked up. “A guy? When does Diana ever talk about a guy?” Maya teased before Diana even had a chance to speak. Diana rolled her eyes. “Maya, I’m serious.” “Uh-huh. You’re serious about a guy? This, I have to hear.” Diana exhaled, propping herself up on her pillows. “So, I was at the café near work…” “Obviously.” “And this guy came up to me. You know how much I hate arrogant men.” Maya hummed in agreement. “Oh, I know.” “So, he sits down without asking, calls me ‘beautiful,’ and when I tell him I want to be alone, he ignores me and stays.” Maya let out a dramatic gasp. “The audacity.” “Right? He introduces himself, asks for my name, and when I tell him I’m not interested, he actually has the nerve to say I haven’t taken a good look at him.” “Oh my God.” “I told him I’d seen enough.” Maya laughed. “Brutal. You need to cut down the way you reject men, or you’re gonna die single.” Diana smirked. “Maybe. But at least I won’t be stuck entertaining entitled jerks.” “Fair.” “Anyway,” Diana continued, shifting on the bed, “after he finally left, there was another guy.” Silence. Then— “Wait. Another guy?” Maya sounded far too excited. “Who are you right now?” Diana groaned. “Let me finish.” “Okay, okay. Go on.” “This one was… different.” Maya made an intrigued sound. “Different how?” “He didn’t talk to me. He just… watched. Not in a creepy way, though. More like he was assessing me.” Maya whistled. “Mysterious.” “And then he paid for my coffee. Left a note.” “What did it say?” Diana hesitated. “It said, Return the favor.” A beat of silence. “Jeez,” Maya finally said. “He really did that? Wow, Diana. I think you just met your match.” Diana sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. I feel like if I call him, I’m stepping into something I might not be able to control.” “Maybe that’s the point,” Maya said softly. Diana stared at the slip of paper on her nightstand. Maybe it was. And maybe, just this once, she wanted to see what it was like to not be in control. Her fingers hovered over the number. Then—before she could overthink it—she pressed dial. The phone rang. And this time, she didn’t hang up.