Alex's POV

My mind was stuck on a loop of images I couldn't shake even as I flipped pancakes. That naked body pressing against me, those fingers tracing my cock through my pants. The memory burned through me, making my hand jerk and splatter batter across the counter.

"Careful, babe," Nancy called from the kitchen island where she read through something. "You're making a mess."

I grunted in response, barely registering her words. All I could see was Lena's perfect ass arched toward me. Her voice echoed in my head: "Fuck you, Alex. I am gonna make you regret this."

Would I regret it? I already did. But which part—touching her or stopping myself?

Warm arms slipped around my waist, startling me back to reality. Nancy pressed her cheek against my back, her sweet voice wrapping around me.

"You seem a million miles away this morning. Everything okay?"

I turned with the spatula in hand, facing her concerned green eyes. Beautiful and sweet Nancy with her soft blonde waves and gentle smile. The woman I should want.

"Just thinking about Lena," I said before I could stop myself.

Nancy's eyebrow quirked. "Oh?"

"She's been... annoying lately." The half-truth tasted bitter. "I'm considering cutting her off."

I'd already blocked her number the moment I'd left Zentharis. Ten years of friendship, potentially ruined because she decided to show me a side of herself I wasn't prepared to see.

Nancy traced circles on my chest but her touch nothing like Lena's hungry grasp.

"You two have been friends for so long. Maybe you should talk it out instead?"

I kissed her forehead, grateful for her understanding, even as guilt churned my stomach. Did I love Nancy because she was safe? Did I love Lena as a friend, or was it more? Or was it simply that I wanted to do things to Lena I'd never even considered with Nancy?

"Maybe," I mumbled, turning back to the pancakes that were now burning. "Shit."

"Language," Nancy laughed, swatting my arm playfully.

I couldn't remember the last time Lena had scolded me for cursing. She usually cursed right back with mischief in her bright eyes.

***

The elevator climbed toward the executive floor of VossTech, and I found myself hovering over the button for the marketing department. One floor down where Lena would be.

I pulled my hand back, adjusting my tie instead. Five days had passed since the club incident. Five days of silence.

What was she planning? The Lena I thought I knew wouldn't go this quiet. She'd spam my phone with texts, show up at my office unannounced, or corner me at lunch. But this Lena—the one with masks, corsets and leather panties, who danced at sex clubs and stripped naked in front of me—was a stranger.

What would the stranger do?

Her silence unnerved me more than her boldness had. Nancy had returned to her own house, so I was left pacing my penthouse every night, waiting for a knock at the door, nude photos sent to my work email or just something wild and chaotic that matched the Lena I'd seen at Zentharis.

But nothing came.

The thought of her deciding I wasn't worth the trouble bothered me more than it should have.

The elevator doors opened, and I strode toward my office, nodding curtly at my assistant.

"Mr. Voss, your 10 AM meeting with marketing and PR is set up in the conference room," she called after me.

My steps faltered. Lena worked in marketing.

"Move it to my office," I said, not looking back.

The marketing team filed into my office precisely at 10 AM. I kept my eyes on my laptop, not wanting to scan the faces for hers.

"Let's get started," I closed my laptop and finally looked up.

My breath caught.

Lena sat at the far end of the table, her arm in a sling, a nasty bruise shadowing her left cheekbone.

What the fuck happened to her?

She didn't meet my gaze, her eyes fixed on the notepad in front of her. The marketing director launched into his presentation, but I wasn't hearing a word. All my focus was on Lena's injuries.

"Ms. Martinez," I interrupted, my voice sharper than intended. "What happened?"

The room fell silent. Lena looked up, but not at me, at a spot just above my head.

"It was an accident, Mr. Voss. Nothing serious."

The formality stung. The lack of eye contact infuriated me.

"When?" I pressed.

"Three days ago. The presentation, sir?"

I clenched my jaw but nodded for the marketing director to continue. Throughout the hour-long meeting, Lena never once looked directly at me. She spoke with clipped and professional answers when addressed, but her gaze always landed on either my forehead, my tie, or the wall behind me.

When the meeting ended, I stood. "Ms. Martinez, stay behind."

She gathered her things as if she hadn't heard me, rising with the others.

"Lena," I said, louder.

She walked out without a backward glance, leaving whispers in her wake. Bandages peeked out from beneath her skirt, wrapped around her thigh.

I slammed my fist on the table, startling the stragglers who hurried out, closing the door behind them.

*

Night had fallen by the time I pulled up outside Lena's apartment building. I'd tried to focus on anything but the image of Lena's bruised face, but concern had won out over my resolve to keep my distance.

I knocked sharply, waiting with my hands shoved in my pockets.

The door swung open, and there she stood, hair wet from probably a shower, a towel wrapped around her body. Water droplets glistened on her collarbone, trickling down toward the swell of her breasts.

"We need to talk," I said, keeping my gaze on her face.

Before she could respond, a male voice called from inside.

"Girl, I think your shampoo ruined my hair."

A tall figure appeared behind her, shirtless, with a towel wrapped around his waist. He froze when he saw me, his eyes widening in recognition.

"Boss."

I stood paralyzed, my mind spinning with a burning unease. This was her revenge? Making me watch her with my employee?

My hands curled into fists at my sides as I stared at them, water dripping from both their bodies. So they fucked and shared a nice, steamy bath together, huh?

"Bad time?" I asked, my voice cold.