Elena didn't sleep well that night.
She tried everything—white noise, a lavender diffuser, even scrolling through mindless content on her phone. But no matter what, her mind circled back to one thing: Ryan Carter was back in her life.
She hated that she still noticed the way he smelled—clean, crisp, with a hint of cedarwood. She hated the memory of his voice saying "I came for you."
He was her past. And she had made a life by not looking back.
By morning, Elena slipped back into her armor: black pencil skirt, cream blouse, nude heels, and a fresh blowout. Clean lines. Sharp edges. No cracks.
By 9:00 a.m., she was seated in her office, sipping espresso when her email chimed.
Subject: URGENT – NDA + project brief
From: Ryan Carter
Attachment: Crisis_Containment_Plan.docx
She rolled her eyes at the title. Subtle, as always.
The email was surprisingly short.
Thought I'd make this official.
Hope you still read between the lines.
—R.
She opened the document. It wasn't fluff. It was serious.
Carter Tech was under threat. A leak from within. Sensitive data was already in the hands of a journalist known for exposing billion-dollar companies. If it went public, it could wreck years of progress and investment—and Ryan's reputation.
By noon, Elena had already assembled a team.
"Should we loop in the legal department?" Camille asked.
"Not yet," Elena said, her voice sharp. "I need to meet with Ryan first. One-on-one. There's something missing in his version of this story."
Camille blinked. You want him in here again?
I want the truth. Whether I like who it comes from or not.
She texted him:
We need to talk. Today. 5pm. My office.
Five minutes later:
Already outside.
—R.
Elena's stomach did that annoying drop again. She stood, smoothed her skirt, and opened her door to find him leaning casually against the lobby wall, scrolling through his phone like he didn't just hijack her schedule—or her peace of mind.
"You never wait for an invitation, do you?" she asked.
"I already told you. I always ask for you specifically."
She narrowed her eyes but stepped aside. Inside. Now.
Once the door closed behind them, Elena crossed her arms. "The leak. How bad is it really?"
Ryan's jaw clenched. Bad enough that I couldn't trust anyone on my team. So I came to you.
You're saying someone inside Carter Tech is feeding information to the press?
He nodded. I don't know who. But I know it's personal. They're not just targeting the company. They're targeting me.
That word again. Personal.
Elena sat, her mind already spinning. "Why you?
He hesitated, then leaned forward. "Because of something I buried a long time ago. And because of something I didn't tell you… back when we were…..
Don't, she interrupted. "This isn't about us.
He didn't move. "But maybe it is. Maybe this thing—this leak—isn't just about business. Maybe it's about who I let get close. And maybe the only person I trust right now… is you.
Elena's breath caught, just for a second.
This wasn't part of the job. This was the part where lines blurred and mistakes happened.
She stood. "I'll help. But you follow my lead. My rules.
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
And for the first time in a long time, Elena wasn't sure if she was solving a crisis…
Or walking straight into one.