One Night Mistake: The CEO's Trap

Cruz rarely rose later than seven in the morning. Whether in business or his personal life, he strictly adhered to his own code of conduct, prioritizing order and control above all else.

Yet, when he woke this morning, the sun was already high in the sky.

The space beside him was empty. He reached out, his knuckles brushing against the rumpled silk sheets. He opened his eyes, adjusting to the brilliant light pouring through the window.

Sunlight fell directly onto a heap of clothes scattered across the floor—his tie, a crumpled shirt. They were the remnants of the wild passion they had shared the night before.

He stretched slowly, feeling an unfamiliar ache in his shoulders and lower back. As he moved, his hand grazed his ribs, where he felt a faint, pale scratch mark.

He traced the mark gently with his thumb, and memories of the previous night came flooding back vividly. Eleanor. She had always been Jaye’s quiet, well-behaved best friend. But last night, clad in a black spaghetti-strap slip dress with her cheeks flushed from a light buzz, she had looked breathtakingly beautiful.

She had stumbled in the hallway, and he had caught her just in time. Her soft breasts pressed against his chest; that sudden physical contact instantly ignited an uncontrollable fire of desire. She looked up, her moist, captivating brown eyes gazing into his, causing his self-control to crumble completely.

A faint, satisfied smile played on his lips.

He threw back the covers and swung his legs out of bed. As he walked toward the bathroom, his bare feet brushed against a small, hard object on the carpet.

Frowning, Cruz crouched down. It was an exquisite diamond ring set in vintage-style platinum. He picked it up, turning it gently between his fingertips. She must have left in such a rush that she’d forgotten her jewelry.

He gripped it tightly, the cool metal touching his skin. A faint smile played on his lips; he had been wondering how to get in touch with her again, and now she had given him the perfect excuse.

Before he could examine it closely, the door to the penthouse swung open.

"Cruz! Time to get up!"

His sister, Jay, strode into the living area. Cruz walked out, pulling on a pair of dark sweatpants, and leaned casually against the kitchen counter. "I'm up. What are you doing here so early?"

"I'm looking for Ellie," Jay said, frowning. "Did you see her leave?"

Cruz kept his expression neutral, betraying nothing. "No. Why?"

"She wasn't feeling well last night, so I put her up in the guest room near yours. I just went to check on her and found the bed hadn't even been slept in. She’s completely vanished."

Cruz shoved his hands into his pockets, his thumb rubbing against the cold metal ring. He didn't want to tell Jay the truth. His sister couldn't keep a secret to save her life; if he told her, the whole family would know by noon. He wasn't ready for that yet.

"She probably just got up early and went home," Cruz lied without missing a beat. "She looked pretty worn out last night."

"I'm really worried about her. Let me know if you hear anything? I'll send her another text," Jay said with a sigh.

"I'll keep an eye out," Cruz replied smoothly. He watched his sister leave, his fingertips still resting on the ring in his pocket. Eleanor. Kanai.