Roseanne took a full five seconds to steady her breathing, forcing her pulse to slow before lifting her gaze. A practiced smile curved her lips as she turned to face him, her expression composed and professional.
"Good morning, Mr. Romano," she said, her tone calm, "I'm Roseanne Leclair, Ms. Gjorgiev's secretary. I'll be assisting you during your time here while you fill in for Ms. Gjorgiev."
The next few seconds stretched into an unbearable silence. The man remained still, his gaze fixed on Roseanne as if he were trying to read her thoroughly. His finger tapped against the surface of the desk in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
Questions crowded her thoughts, one after another, but she forced them back. This wasn't the moment to lose control. She focused on keeping her expression neutral. The only response she could allow herself was to act as if this were their first meeting.
As if she had never trembled beneath his touch.
As if she hadn't cried out in pleasure while wrapped in his arms four years ago.
Czar Nikolai Romano.
That was the name Genevieve had given Roseanne yesterday. The supposedly "cute" and "bratty" baby brother.
Seriously, Genevieve needed to reevaluate her vocabulary because she clearly had no idea how to describe a person.
Czar chuckled a low, amused sound, as he rose from his chair. His tall and imposing frame moved toward Roseanne with absolute authority. He stopped just right in front of her, leaning back casually against the desk.
"Do you have a twin sister, by any chance?" he asked.
"No, sir, I don't—"
"Is there some secret about your birth that you may not know?"
"No… sir, there's—"
"Were you involved in an accident that could have caused amnesia?"
"No, sir. But I don't understand—"
"Then," he interrupted, cutting her off before she could finish.
He gripped her waist and pulled her against him. She stumbled, her hands landing instinctively on his chest as his presence pressed impossibly close.
"I suppose we'll just have to see how good you are at acting dumb, sweetheart," he whispered into her lips, barely five centimeters apart.
Roseanne's chest tightened, her heart dropped straight into her stomach. Oh… he knew, she thought. He remembered her.
It was just a random night four years ago, how did he still remember her?
She shoved him back, regaining her balance and standing upright on her own two feet. "I'm sorry, Mr. Romano, but I don't understand what you mean."
Without hesitation, Roseanne checked her tablet and began briefing him, keeping her voice calm and steady despite the tension in the room. "Sir, here's your schedule for today."
As she went through the packed schedule, she felt his gaze on her, sharp and unrelenting. His obsidian eyes were following her every move. One of his hands remained tucked inside his pocket.
Fate was definitely messing with her. Of all people in the world, what were the chances that Genevieve's cousin was the same man she had met four years ago? Back then, they hadn't even known each other's names.
"…and finally, at 7:00 p.m., you have dinner with Mr. Larson from ORCA to continue discussions on our cloud services partnership," she finished, lifting her eyes to meet his gaze.
"ORCA?" He gave a short laugh. "Those pricks. I thought we're done talking to them."
"Ms. Gjorgiev instructed me to cancel the dinner yesterday," she said. "Still, I thought you might want to show up."
"Don't cancel it," he ordered, pushing himself away from the desk. He walked to the chair and took his seat. "Looks like I'll have to teach them a lesson myself."
Roseanne realized that ORCA had once betrayed their partnership, defecting to a rival company, but she didn't know what could have triggered Czar to look like he was ready to hand out some harsh lessons.
Or maybe, he simply wasn't the forgiving type.
"Alright, sir. We'll stick to the schedule for today and I'll send the necessary documents for your review."
As she was ready to leave the room, his deep voice cut through the air again.
"Do you have a white dress?"
Roseanne turned to look at him. "A white dress, sir?"
"Something short, above the knees. Sleeveless. One that shows off most of your skin."
Czar stared straight into her eyes. That dress, the one she had worn that night four years ago, flashed through her mind.
Oh, he was teasing her. He wanted her to know he remembered the night they had spent together, while she had been playing dumb.
"Yes, I have one," she answered.
"Good. Wear it for dinner tonight. I want a pretty thing to look at."
She bowed slightly to excuse herself. "Understood, sir."
But the moment she stepped out of the room, Roseanne's composure shattered. Her fingers trembled and she almost threw her tablet onto her desk before practically running toward the bathroom.
She pushed the door open and quickly checked every stall, making sure she was alone. Empty. Thank God.
Only then did she grip the edge of the sink as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
How did this even happen?
Of all the possibilities in the world, how had the man she spent one reckless night with become her new boss?
Her thoughts spiraled out of control. But amidst the chaos, one thought screamed louder than the rest. What would happen to Kaden?
Should she tell him about Kaden?
No. Absolutely not. That would be way too absurd.
Yes, they had shared a passionate night together, but it had been nothing more than a one-night stand. They both understood that. Showing up now and revealing that she had gotten pregnant with his child would be reckless. Selfish.
What if he had a family of his own by now?
Especially now he stood as her boss. The consequences could be massive and her job could be at risk.
The safest option was to not get caught. Stay quiet, act dumb, hide the fact that she had a son, and wait until Genevieve returned.
After all, Czar was just temporary.
Once Genevieve came back from her holiday, he would be gone.