One Night Mistake, Two-Year Contract

After

Ava’s POV

My hand reached across the sheets, searching for warmth.

But all I could feel was the cool fabric that had forgotten anyone else had been there. I blinked slowly, my head throbbing with each heart beat.

The sunlight sneaking through the curtains stabbed through my eyes as I groaned and pressed my face into the pillow, but that only made the pounding worse.

I pushed myself up on shaky elbows. The movement sent a dull ache through my thighs and between my legs. My body kept reminding me of last night whether I wanted it to or not.

His fingers digged into my hip, the sound of my dress ripping. My own voice cracked as I moaned his name, and the way I shook on top of him, begging for more.

Heat flooded my face as I yanked the sheet up to cover my naked chest, clutching it tight even though the room was empty.

I stared at the empty side of the bed. There was no pillow dent, no forgotten watch and no note. He had simply left.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood. My knees buckled for a second so I grabbed the bedside table to steady myself. Every step made the soreness between my legs more noticeable

My torn black dress lay crumpled on the floor like a crime scene. I stopped and stared at it. The rip went straight down the middle. I bent down, picked it up with two fingers, and ran my thumb along the jagged edge.

I dropped the dress quickly and kept moving. I couldn’t stay still. If I stayed still, I would have to feel everything.

I paced the room in unsteady circles, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. I grabbed my bra that was hung on the chair. I struggled to put it on, my fingers fumbling with the hooks three times before they finally clicked. One strap kept slipping off my shoulder so I yanked it back up angrily.

My panties were missing. I dropped to my knees and searched under the bed, my ass in the air. I found one heel and a lipstick tube, but still no panties. I sat back on the floor, my back against the bed, as I pulled my knees to my chest.

My wavy hair kept falling into my face. I grabbed it with both hands and twisted it into a tight knot on top of my head, pulling until my scalp stung.

I rocked slowly, staring at the carpet.

I forced myself up again and started throwing things into my suitcase. My charger slipped from my sweaty fingers and clattered to the floor. I left it. My makeup bag tipped over, scattering everything. I didn’t pick it up, I just kept stuffing clothes inside, not folding anything.

I zipped the suitcase roughly and dragged it to the door. Before leaving, I looked back at the messy bed one last time. The crumpled sheets, the scattered pillows and the faint scent of his cologne still hanging in the air.

I bit my lip hard and whispered to the empty room, voice barely there:

“It meant nothing.”

Then I walked out.

Later that day – Vale Enterprises

My legs felt weak as I stepped out of the elevator onto the executive floor.

I kept my head down, clutching my bag tightly against my chest. My hair was twisted into the tightest knot I could manage, but strands kept escaping. I smoothed them down nervously. My blouse felt too tight and my skirt suddenly felt too short.

I tried to walk normally towards my desk, but every step sent a reminder through my sore thighs. I swallowed hard, trying to push down the burning feeling in my throat.

I turned to the corner and froze.

There he was.

Sitting behind the massive glass desk like he owned the entire building. Dark hair perfectly styled and that same black suit. Those stormy gray eyes focused on his laptop.

Adrian Vale.

My boss.

The man who had been inside me less than twenty-four hours ago.

My stomach plummeted and I grabbed the wall to steady myself. My knees trembled so badly I had to lock them. The air suddenly felt too thick to breathe.

He looked up.

Our eyes met.

For a split second, heat flashed across his face. Then it vanished, his expression turned ice cold.

Professional.

“Miss Mariani,” he said, voice smooth and calm. “You’re late. My new executive secretary, Interesting.”

The words landed like a slap.

I stood there frozen, heart slamming against my ribs. My cheeks burned and my hands shook so badly I had to grip my bag tighter to hide it.

He knew.

Of course he knew

.

“Y-yes, sir,” I managed, my voice coming out small and shaky. “The flight was delayed. I’m sorry.”

He leaned back in his chair and looked at me slowly. His gaze moved over my face, then down my body for a second before returning to my eyes. I felt completely exposed.

“Close the door,” he said coldly. “We have work to do.”

I nodded quickly and stepped inside his office. I closed the door behind me with a soft click that sounded too loud.

The mistake I had tried so hard to bury was now sitting right in front of me, acting like nothing had happened.

I stood awkwardly near the desk, my heart still racing and shame burning through my whole body. Adrian picked up his phone and started typing, his face was completely blank.

I leaned forward a little, trying to see the screen.

The words blurred for a moment before they hit me.

“…recommend immediate termination… Miss Ava Mariani… unprofessional conduct…”

My stomach dropped hard. Ice spread through my chest, making it difficult to breathe. The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thick.

He was typing to fire me.