Seducing the Ice-Cold CEO

Leah I sat at my desk, fingers flying over my keyboard as I worked through yet another report. The screen glowed in front of me, the numbers and figures blurring slightly as my focus waned. I blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the drowsiness creeping in. My back ached from sitting in the same position for too long, and I rolled my shoulders to relieve some of the tension. Just as I was about to sigh and power through the next paragraph, a sharp ping echoed from my laptop. A new email. I groaned loudly, throwing my head back in frustration. “I swear, work is trying to kill me.” Across from me, May, my friend, snorted but didn’t look up from her own screen. “Tell me about it,” she muttered. Resigned to my fate, I clicked on the notification, fully expecting another mundane request or last-minute revision. But the moment my eyes landed on the sender’s name, my heart did a somersault. My breath hitched. No way. I reread the email twice, then a third time, just to be sure I wasn’t imagining things. My eyes grew wider with each pass, and before I could stop myself, a loud whoop of joy escaped me. May finally looked up, her brow arching. “What’s got you acting like you just won the lottery?” Grinning like an i***t, I swiveled my chair toward her, unable to contain my excitement. “I just landed an interview with the city’s richest man, Dante Kerlsen!” May’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise with a casual nod. “Huh. That’s big.” “Big?” I repeated incredulously. “It’s huge!” I spun my chair again, giddy beyond belief. “You don’t get it, May. Dante Kerlsen is a legend in finance circles. The guy built an empire from nothing, and yet, barely anyone knows what he even looks like! For someone with his level of wealth and influence, he’s practically a ghost. No pictures, no flashy social media presence; just raw power behind the scenes.” I stopped spinning long enough to grab my pen, biting the cap as I shook my head in amazement. “I can’t believe I’m going to be the one to interview him. Do you know how many reporters would kill for this chance?” May hummed, unimpressed. “I mean, yeah, that’s cool and all, but…” She snapped her fingers, a thought dawning on her. “Isn’t your date with Ethan tonight?” I froze mid-swivel. Oh, crap. I slapped my forehead. “Oh, crap,” I echoed out loud, bolting upright in my seat. My gaze darted to my phone, which was still plugged into its charger on my desk. How could I have completely forgotten? Rushing to grab it, I unplugged the device and quickly dialed Ethan’s number, my fingers fumbling in my haste. The line barely rang twice before he picked up. “Hey, babe,” Ethan’s familiar voice greeted me. “What’s up?” I winced. “Ethan, I’m so sorry, but I have to cancel our date tonight.” There was a brief pause. “Oh?” I hurried to explain. “I just got an exclusive interview with Dante Kerlsen. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can’t pass it up. I swear I didn’t forget about our date on purpose. It’s just… everything happened so fast, and I—” “Leah.” Ethan chuckled lightly, cutting off my rambling. “It’s fine. Really.” I blinked. “Wait, you’re not upset?” “Nah.” His voice remained even, calm. “This is a big deal for you. I get it.” Relief flooded through me. “Oh, thank God.” “Don’t worry about it,” he assured me. “Go crush that interview. I’ll pick you up after the networking party later, okay?” I smiled, warmth filling my chest. “Okay. Thank you, Ethan. You’re the best.” “Don’t forget it,” he teased. I laughed. “I won’t.” Hanging up, I let out a breath and turned to May, ready to thank her for reminding me, only to stop short at the odd look on her face. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. I tilted my head. “What?” May leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “I don’t know… I guess I just find it weird how chill Ethan is about this.” I blinked. “What do you mean?” “I mean,” she said slowly, “if I had a boyfriend who canceled our date on the day of, I’d at least demand they buy me dinner for a week.” I snorted. “Come on, May. Ethan’s not like that.” She shrugged. “Maybe. But don’t you think it’s a little too easy? Like, I expected at least a little disappointment. A tiny protest. But nope, he just rolled with it.” I waved off her concern, still too exhilarated to let doubt creep in. “Ethan’s understanding. He knows how much my career means to me.” May didn’t look convinced, but she let it drop with a simple, “If you say so.” I shook my head, dismissing the conversation. There was no point in over analyzing Ethan’s reaction. He was just being supportive, that was all. Besides, I had bigger things to focus on, like what I was going to ask Dante Kerlsen. The thought alone sent a fresh wave of excitement through me. That excitement of interviewing Dante Kerlsen fueled me through the rest of my workday. The sheer energy of anticipation kept me from feeling the usual fatigue that settled in around mid-afternoon. Every task I completed felt like a step closer to the opportunity of a lifetime, and I refused to let anything slow me down. Reports? Done. Emails? Sent. Calls? Wrapped up. I even skipped my usual afternoon coffee, unwilling to waste a single second. By the time I left the office—an hour and a half early, thanks to my brilliant time management—I was practically buzzing. I rushed home, threw open my closet, and picked out an elegant but understated dress, something professional yet alluring. It was a deep emerald that hugged my curves and I paired it with classic heels, touched up my makeup, and swept my hair into a loose but controlled updo. Satisfied, I grabbed my clutch and headed out. The networking event was already in full swing when I arrived. The grand ballroom buzzed with conversation, laughter, and the clinking of champagne glasses. Waiters weaved through the crowd with silver trays, offering macarons and expensive drinks. The attendees were exactly what I expected; brokers, investors, hedge fund managers, and financial analysts, all dressed in crisp suits and polished dresses. As I stepped into the room, heads turned. It wasn’t unusual. I had built a name for myself in this world, not just as a financial reporter but as someone who commanded attention. Being young, beautiful, and highly competent made me stand out in a field dominated by older, more traditional figures. It wasn’t the first time I noticed lingering stares or heard murmurs of my name passing between guests. Still, I barely paid them the level of attention they paid me. My focus was singular: Dante Kerlsen. I moved through the crowd easily, exchanging polite greetings with familiar faces. Some of them tried to strike up longer conversations but I kept my interactions brief. I was here for one reason only. After making my rounds, I wandered toward the back of the room, near the quieter corners where less conspicuous deals were often made. That was when I spotted Dante Kerlsen’s secretary. We had met once before, during a press event where he had represented his boss at the last minute. Smiling, I approached him. “Mr. Hensley,” I greeted. “It’s been a while.” He turned, recognition crossing his face before he returned my smile with one of his own. “Leah Sparrow,” he said smoothly. “A pleasure, as always.” We exchanged brief pleasantries before I got to the point. “I can’t tell you how excited I am for the chance to interview Mr. Kerlsen.” I kept my tone light but purposeful. “He’s been an enigma for so long, I’d love to get even the smallest insight into his world.” Hensley gave me a polite, measured look. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much.” My smile faltered slightly. “Oh?” “He’s an unpredictable man,” he said. “Even I don’t always know what he’ll do next. You may not meet him tonight.” I pressed my lips together, nodding as if this was no big deal, even though disappointment simmered just beneath my skin. But I wasn’t the type to give up easily. If I had to stay until the last guest left just to get five minutes with Dante, I would. And so I waited. Unfortunately, by the end of the event, I still hadn’t seen him. The guests trickled out, the conversations faded, and the once-bustling room slowly emptied. I checked my phone, half-expecting a message from Ethan saying he was outside. Nothing yet. Annoyance pricked at me. I had pushed aside my date with Ethan for this, only to be met with disappointment. As I made my way toward the exit, a few of the attendees I had spoken to earlier noticed me lingering. “I can give you a ride home,” offered one of them, an older investor I had interviewed months ago. “Same here,” said another, a younger hedge fund manager. I smiled politely and declined. One of them, a man named Richard, someone I vaguely recalled working with a small private firm, decided to stay back. “No worries, my ride’s on the way. I’ll wait with you.” We made small talk while I kept glancing at my phone, waiting for Ethan’s message. Then, the first raindrops began to fall. I sighed, tilting my head up as the drizzle speckled my skin. The streetlights reflected off the wet pavement, creating shimmering patterns on the ground. I turned to brush off the droplets of water off my skin, and that was when I saw him. An imposing figure emerged from the event hall, moving with effortless confidence. His presence commanded attention, not because of anything he did, but because of what he was. Unlike the men in this industry who kept their appearances crisp and controlled, this man had let his hair grow out, the dark strands brushing his nape, a few falling over his forehead. It softened his otherwise chiseled features, but there was nothing soft about the way he carried himself. He scanned the area, as if searching for something. Richard shifted beside me, looking into the distance. “Oh, there’s my ride.” I barely registered his words, my attention fixed on the man. As Richard turned to leave, he hesitated and then gestured toward the newcomer. “Hey, why don’t you ask him for a ride? Looks like he’s heading out too.” I blinked, snapping out of my daze. “What?” Richard nodded toward the sleek, luxury car pulling up. “He can probably drop you off.” At that moment, the man’s gaze locked onto mine. A shiver ran through me; not from the cold, but from the intensity in his eyes. He studied me for a brief moment before inclining his chin toward his car. “Need a ride?” His voice was deep, rich. It would have been easy to say yes. It was late, the rain was picking up, and I had been standing outside for long enough. But then I remembered Ethan was already on his way to get me. I gave the stranger a polite smile, shaking my head. “Thank you, but my boyfriend’s coming to get me.” Something unreadable flashed across his expression but he simply gave me a small nod. “Suit yourself.” And with that, he turned and walked toward his car.