In the entertainment industry, secrets had been currency—and Hazel Wilson had had a treasure chest full of them.

"Laylah Vasquez flaunts a revolving door of boyfriends behind the scenes while playing all sweet and innocent. Her burner Instagram is packed with racy selfies, and now she’s dragging Emiliano Mason’s name through the mud. It’s a train wreck waiting to happen."

"Amaris, you came to the right girl today. I’ve got some piping hot tea on Laylah."

Amaris had clinked her glass with a grin. “Thanks to you, I made a real splash on my first day as executive secretary at Mason Group. Dinner’s on me tonight."

Hazel had jumped at the opening. "Well, don’t mind if I do. How about we tack on another order of roast beef?"

Amaris had paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face, before nodding with a tight smile.

The three women had buzzed with chatter, their words flowing in a lively mix of gossip and celebration, while Cal Jordan had played the loyal audience, watching with a warm smile and soft eyes, quiet but present.

Across the city, Emiliano Mason’s patience had frayed in his sprawling penthouse with its killer river views. As the clock had ticked toward eleven, his irritation had simmered. He had snatched up his phone and called his assistant.

"She’s still not back?"

Even through the line, Noah could feel the bite in his boss’s tone. "Mrs. Mason and her friends are still in the private room at Starlight Lounge. They haven’t left yet."

Emiliano had ended the call without another word and immediately dialed Martin Rose. "Martin, shut Starlight down."

Martin had been baffled. "What’s gotten into you?"

"Today. Now. I want it closed."

"Come on, Emiliano, my little bar isn’t exactly a threat to your empire."

"It’s messing with my mood."

The friendship between Martin Rose and Emiliano Mason had run deep. Both heirs to their family fortunes, they had understood each other inside and out, leaving little room for secrets. Martin had been one of the first to know about Emiliano and Amaris’s hushed-up romance back in the day—back when Amaris was barely seventeen, he had teased Emiliano for robbing the cradle.

Now, spotting Noah lingering outside Starlight Lounge to keep tabs on Amaris, Martin couldn’t resist a playful dig when Emiliano called.

"You swear you’re over your ex, but your actions scream otherwise. It’s just your words that haven’t caught up yet."

Sweat dripped down his chiseled jawline, landing on her damp chest. It was an intimate moment that could unsettle anyone.

Her throat went inexplicably dry, and she swallowed hard. "All that sweating in such a short time? You nervous, or something?" she teased.

Emiliano Mason pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, choosing silence. The truth, he feared, might send her running.

As they stepped from the shadows into the light, Amaris Mason's anxious gaze flitted everywhere, never quite settling. He read every flicker of expression, sensing exactly what she was thinking.

"I'm afraid you'll rat me out to Grandfather," Emiliano said, trying to cut the tension.

"What?"

"That I'm keeping you from entering the house."

"......"

"It's your first time here. Thought I'd come down and show you the way. Not like I was just waiting for you."

"Well... thanks, then."

The warm, stuffy elevator made the awkward conversation even more suffocating. Luckily, the ride was short.

The elevator opened straight into the foyer—one unit per floor. Emiliano kicked off his shoes and set her down. "I carried you all the way up here without breaking a sweat, and you call me weak?"

Years had passed, but he still held a grudge.

"Where's my luggage?" she asked, dodging his remark.

Emiliano gestured impatiently. "Do I look like your assistant or something?"

"Of course not. Thanks for the help, Mr. Mason."

Her formal tone made Emiliano want to say a whole lot more, but he decided it wasn't exactly appropriate for their first day living together.

Wanting to dodge any more awkwardness, Amaris asked for the bathroom and quickly excused herself.

Emiliano sighed and headed to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of ice water and downing it to cool his frustration.

When Amaris returned, her hair damp from washing her face, she looked refreshed. This was Emiliano's private space, free from the household staff bustling around the family estate, giving her a sense of freedom.

Studying his unreadable expression, she asked, "Where's the guest room?"

"I don't intend for this to be a platonic arrangement," he quipped.

Amaris shot him a frosty glare, one that could slice right through him if looks could kill.

It was only the first day, and Emiliano wasn't expecting any miracles. If she held back the sarcasm, he'd call it a win.

After a brief silence, he gestured down the hall. "Both rooms are master suites. Mine's on the left. Feel free to knock anytime."

That was his final act of defiance.

Amaris simply replied, "Thank you," and headed to the right with her luggage.

A chill settled over Emiliano. Irritated, he loosened his shirt collar and shrugged off his damp shirt as he retreated to his own room.

An annoying ringtone cut through the air—Martin Rose was calling.

Emiliano answered tersely, "Hello?"

Martin immediately burst out laughing. "Picking up the phone now? Guess you got shut down."

Once the door was closed, Emiliano didn't bother hiding his disappointment. He sighed heavily. "Yeah, so, Martin the Casanova, got any tips for your little brother?"

Martin was taken aback, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Are you seriously asking me for advice? Well, first off, call me 'big bro.'"

"Dream on!"

"Hey, I've known Amaris for years. Maybe I could put in a good word for you."

"In her eyes, you're just like me."

"That's not fair. You're the king of bad boys; I'm just the jester."

"Buzz off. If you're no help, quit bothering me."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, these things take time, you know."

"To hell with patience, you jerk!"

With a final curse, Emiliano hung up, ignoring any further calls. Patience had never been his strong suit.

——

The next morning, Amaris arrived early at Mason Group headquarters. As the new head of the executive office, building a good rapport with her team was essential.

The office had two secretaries: Kayden Wilson, who managed meetings and schedules, and Alexis Patel, who handled personal tasks.

A new female chief secretary parachuting into the department was bound to stir up some feelings.

Amaris fired up her computer, planning to review her colleagues' reports before calling a meeting.

An unexpected call from Hazel Wilson interrupted her focus.

"Why the early call?" Amaris asked, a little surprised.

Having just woken up from a hangover, Hazel's voice was hoarse but urgent. "I got a solid tip—someone's out to get you."

"What?" Amaris almost laughed at the absurdity. In a law-abiding society, who would actually act on a grudge?

"Hazel has a wealthy backer named Karl Reyes, well-known in capital circles. Strange that they came after you instead of the real leaker, which makes me think you're being targeted."

"Amaris, maybe you should lie low for a bit."

Calm and collected, Amaris knew little about the darker side of the entertainment industry and wasn't afraid. "No need. I'm safe inside Mason Group—they won't get in."

"But you do have to leave to go home."

At that moment, the office door beeped, signaling someone's arrival.

Lowering her voice, Amaris replied, "I'll handle it. We'll chat later." She ended the call just as Alexis walked in.

"You're here early, Ms. Mason!" Alexis said, pleasantly surprised, holding up a paper bag. "Had breakfast yet? I accidentally got extra—want some?"

"Thanks, but I've eaten."

Going over Alexis's report on Emiliano's dietary habits, one detail caught Amaris's eye: cilantro was listed as his favorite.

Cilantro, a favorite? No way. Emiliano couldn't stand even a hint of it and would have every speck picked out of his food.

Alexis wasn't new to the role. She'd been Emiliano's secretary since he became CEO at twenty-five, earning a rep as Mason Group's "top secretary" for her meticulousness and charm.

Such a glaring mistake coming from the usually meticulous Alexis hinted at a hasty brush-off, and a clumsy one at that.

Amaris watched as Alexis carefully arranged a plate, then delivered it to the CEO's office.

A ten-dollar sandwich, presented with her flair, looked like a hundred-dollar delicacy. True effort, indeed.

Emiliano Mason and Kayden Wilson walked into the office together, having met in the elevator, their conversation still on work matters. The second Emiliano stepped inside, his eyes locked onto Amaris Mason. His face was unreadable, but his focus didn't waver for a moment.

Seeing Alexis Patel rise to greet him, Amaris reluctantly did the same. "Good morning, Mr. Mason," she managed, the words flat.

Emiliano stopped at her desk. "Amaris, my office. Now."

"Yes, sir," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.

The air in the office thickened the moment the executive door shut. Alexis's polite smile twisted into something envious. She turned to Kayden, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Emiliano's brought in someone with obvious talent. Aren't you worried she's gonna take your spot?"

Kayden stayed quiet, his attention fixed on the day's materials.

"She's got Emiliano in her corner. All you've got is yourself. If you let her get comfortable as chief secretary, you'll be pushed aside—reassigned, or maybe even canned."

Catching the flicker of panic in Kayden's eyes, Alexis leaned in. "Why not have her handle the reception for Roger Blake?"

Kayden's frown deepened at the name. Roger Blake—Brighton's regional distributor. Sure, he was good at his job, but the guy was a total womanizer. Any dinner with a woman present was basically an open invitation for him to make a move. Alexis herself had barely dodged an ugly situation with him once, and only because Emiliano showed up just in time. After that, Kayden always handled Roger's visits personally.

"I've laid it all out for you. You know what to do. If she can't cut it here, she's still got Emiliano to fall back on. But if you're the one pushed out… where are you gonna go?"

Kayden sat with that thought. Back in the elevator, Emiliano had told him to follow Amaris's lead and report any problems directly to her. It felt like an unofficial demotion.

Inside the executive office, Amaris immediately spotted the breakfast spread on the desk. Emiliano sat down and slid the platter her way. "That's for you."

"No, thanks. I already ate," she refused, fighting to keep the irritation out of her voice. The way he was always on her about her meals was overbearing. "Alexis prepared it for you."

Emiliano caught the edge in her tone. "It's part of her job."

"Obviously I know that. So what's your point?"

Her refusal was crystal clear. Staring at that impassive face, he felt like he was trying to melt a block of ice. After a long silence, she let out a sigh. "Can you just give me my assignments, please?"

Emiliano forced his frustration down, keeping his expression hard. He sat up, drumming his fingers on the desk. "Yesterday was rushed. I didn't have a chance to explain. For work, coordinate with Kayden. From now on, you're handling office duties. I expect you to fill the chief secretary role and prove Grandpa's trust wasn't misplaced. That's all. You can go."

"Yes, Mr. Mason," she said, turning on her heel without a backward glance.

He ground his teeth, silently wondering how the hell she managed to be even colder than him.

Later that afternoon, at the hotel, Amaris and Kayden met to welcome Roger Blake and his crew of four. As soon as Roger got out of the car, his eyes locked onto Amaris—instantly captivated. His gaze swept over her with greedy curiosity, silently marveling at the stunning woman standing before him. She was the epitome of human beauty. In the sunlight, Amaris stood tall, her pale skin making her delicate features even more striking. Her blossom-shaped eyes held a slight flush from the heat, looking dewy and soft. Her makeup was sweat-proof, giving her skin a delicate matte finish that only amped up her allure. Roger was absolutely taken with this style.

"Roger, we meet again…" Kayden started, but Roger was completely oblivious, already reaching for Amaris. "What's your name, lovely lady?"

His accented English nearly made Amaris laugh. She sidestepped smoothly and gave a slight nod. "Hello, Mr. Blake. I'm Amaris Mason, Emiliano's chief secretary. Newly appointed."

Despite failing to touch her hand, Roger's interest only deepened. The unattainable always intrigued him more.

"Kayden, you know me well. This choice is way better than the last."

Kayden felt a jolt but filed that remark away for later. With a partial nod, Amaris gestured politely, "Mr. Blake, you've had a long day in this heat. Let's get you settled in, shall we?"

"Thank you, Amaris. Delighted. Dinner together tonight?"

Amaris paused. Kayden was supposed to be with Emiliano at an industry conference—a fancy dinner banquet that Emiliano, as host, couldn't skip. Two dinners at once, no way to juggle. "Yes, Mr. Blake," she agreed, her voice smooth.

Roger arched an eyebrow, his hands clasped behind his back, teasing. "Great. We'll chat more tonight."

After getting Roger's group settled, Kayden rushed back to the office. Amaris arrived early at the reserved private dining room, touching up her makeup and going over her essentials. Tonight promised to be a challenge. She hoped her preparations wouldn't be needed.

As the hour arrived, everyone for the dinner had shown up. Amaris, with her fresh and professional look, needed little to stand out. Her figure brought the simple suit to life. Roger, seeing her again, was stunned all over again. The earlier matte beauty had shifted into a vibrant, confident executive presence. The table was surrounded by seasoned sharks in the business world, all aware of Roger's intentions toward Amaris but playing dumb, waiting to see what went down.

Being pressured to drink was expected, but openly spiking her wine was a whole other level. Amaris hadn't counted on such blatant nerve.

"Excuse me, I need the restroom."

She shoved Roger's wandering hand off her waist without hesitation, cutting off any chance for retaliation, and bolted to the bathroom. Leaning against the door, she panted. The symptoms hit her hard: dizziness, intense heat, restlessness. Her whole body was on fire, her heart pounding in her ears, every cell screaming, blood boiling.

Thank God she'd come prepared.

She turned on the faucet, gulped water, then shoved her fingers down her throat to make herself puke. After a few rounds, the dark wine surged up. Then she wiped aromatic oil under her nostrils, using the sharp scent to stay alert. To really keep her senses sharp, she let a drop fall straight into her eyes.