The CEO’s Hamster

Six

Chapter 6 — The Boy She Forgot

Victoria

I woke with one name already occupying my mind.

Lorenzo.

I hated that. I hated even more that the memories from childhood had returned with him.

For years, I had convinced myself that the little girl beneath the tree had never existed.

That the laughter, the cookies, the boy with warm brown eyes and an Italian accent were

nothing more than fragments of a childhood I barely remembered.

Now they were everywhere. His smile. His voice. Hamster.

I sat on the edge of my bed and rubbed my temples.

"Get yourself together,

" I whispered.

I was Victoria Hayes. CEO. Ice Queen. A woman who could walk into a boardroom full of

powerful men and make them reconsider every decision they had made. I wasn't

supposed to be shaken by one man. Especially not a man I had known when I was eight.

My phone vibrated.

Jamal: Tell me you didn't spend the entire night thinking about Mr. Italian Billionaire.

I stared at the message. Then another appeared.

Jamal: Because if you did, I'm celebrating.

I rolled my eyes.

Me: I have work.

His reply came almost immediately.

Jamal: That's not an answer.

I smiled despite myself. Before I could respond, my phone rang. My assistant.

"Ms. Hayes, there's someone here asking to see you.

"

"Who?"

"He wouldn't give me his name.

"

My smile disappeared.

"Then he doesn't see me.

"

There was a pause.

"He said you'll change your mind when I tell you he mentioned the

word Hamster.

"

I froze. My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Where is he?"

"In the lobby.

"

"Keep him there.

"

I ended the call. For several seconds, I simply stared at the phone. Only two people knew

that name. Jamal. And Lorenzo. But Lorenzo wasn't supposed to be at my company.

I quickly changed into a fitted charcoal suit and headed downstairs. The elevator doors

opened onto the lobby. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I searched the room.

Then I saw him. Not Lorenzo. A stranger.

Tall. Dark-haired. Wearing a navy suit that looked expensive but deliberately ordinary. He

stood beside the entrance, his hands in his pockets. When his eyes met mine, something

about his expression made me uneasy.

He smiled.

"Victoria Hayes.

"

I stopped several feet away.

"Who are you?"

The man's smile widened.

"Someone who remembers your childhood.

"

My stomach tightened.

"What do you want?"

He glanced around the crowded lobby.

"Not here.

"

"You came to my company uninvited. You don't get to choose where we speak.

"

His expression changed. For the first time, the amusement disappeared from his eyes.

"Then I'll make this simple.

" He stepped closer.

"You should stay away from Lorenzo

Valentieri.

"

My pulse quickened.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I'm not the only one he's hurt without meaning to. Ask him how the last woman

who got close ended up.

"

Silence. I stared at him.

Before I could respond, the lobby doors opened. Lorenzo walked inside. His eyes

immediately found me. Then they moved to the stranger. Something dark flashed across

his face.

"Victoria,

" Lorenzo said quietly.

The stranger turned. For a brief moment, the two men stared at each other. Recognition.

Wariness. Old history.

I saw all three.

Lorenzo walked toward us.

"Daniel.

"

The stranger smiled.

"It's been a long time, Valentieri.

"

I looked between them.

"You know each other?"

Lorenzo stopped beside me.

"Yes.

"

His voice was calm. Too calm.

Daniel laughed softly.

"You should tell her everything.

"

Lorenzo's jaw tightened.

"Leave.

"

Daniel looked at me one last time. Then he leaned slightly toward me.

"Ask him what

happened the summer he left America. And ask him who's paying for my flights these

days.

"

My breath caught.

Daniel walked away. Lorenzo didn't stop him. He simply watched until the man

disappeared through the doors.

Then he turned to me.

"Are you all right?"

I looked at him. For the first time since seeing him again, the warmth in my chest was

replaced by suspicion.

"You have five minutes,

" I said.

His brows drew together.

"For what?"

"To tell me the truth. Who is Daniel Cross? What happened that summer? And who is

paying him to warn me off you?"

Lorenzo's expression hardened. For several seconds, he said nothing. Then he reached for

my hand. I almost pulled away. But his fingers closed gently around mine.

"Cricetina mia…

" His voice was barely above a whisper.

"There are things about that

summer you don't remember. And there's someone in my past I should have told you

about already.

"

My heart sank.

"What things? Who?"

Lorenzo looked directly into my eyes.

"The reason I disappeared. And the reason someone wants to make sure we never find

our way back to each other.

"

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