Chapter 5

The fallout from the conference room exploded. Within half an hour, it was the only thing anyone in the company was talking about.

When I walked Ryan back to our desks, we were met with a sea of awestruck, curious faces.

Lily's plagiarism had been exposed. She was suspended immediately, and I got the supreme satisfaction of watching her pack up her desk and do the walk of shame.

I was in such a good mood that even Ryan, who was already pretty easy on the eyes, started looking ten times better.

"Ryan, you were seriously incredible back there," I gushed, and I meant it.

My praise made him a little bashful. He ducked his head, but a proud smile spread across his face anyway. "Anything to help my Sophie," he murmured.

He was a lethal mix of soft and savage. I was absolutely obsessed.

Just as we were having our little moment, my phone buzzed.

It was my best friend, Lydia Harper.

"Sophie! You better spill everything this second! The company group chat is an absolute dumpster fire! You actually tamed the icy Mr. Lakewood?" Her voice erupted from the speaker before I could even say hello.

"Shh! Lower your voice!" I hissed, throwing a guilty look at Ryan, who was sitting right beside me. "I'll call you back later. It's not a good time."

"What do you mean, not a good time? You're both in the office! Turn on the video chat! Hurry up! I need to see the aftermath of you working your magic on Mr. Lakewood!"

I knew she wouldn't give up, so I sighed and hit the video call button.

Her face appeared, pressed so close to her camera that all I could see was one giant, gossip-hungry eye.

"Here, look for yourself," I said, flipping the camera to show Ryan.

He was sitting perfectly straight, looking a little overwhelmed by the attention.

"Well, hello there, Mr. Lakewood," Lydia cooed, waving dramatically.

Ryan glanced at me for permission. I gave him a little nod, and he offered a polite nod back.

"Damn, girl, you are my hero!" Lydia mouthed silently, giving me a huge thumbs-up.

I was preening with pride when I felt a weight settle on my shoulder.

Ryan had rested his chin there, nuzzling against my neck like a giant, affectionate cat.

"Sophie, I'm thirsty," he murmured softly.

On the screen, Lydia was staring at the camera like her eyes were about to fall out.

Trying to act casual, I grabbed my cup and held it to his lips, replying, "Here you go."

He took a few sips, still leaning on me, perfectly content.

When he was done, he licked a stray drop of water from his lips.

It was a completely unconscious gesture, but it was so insanely hot that my face started to burn all over again.

Lydia on the other end of the call was speechless. Her mouth was just hanging open as she mouthed, "Oh! My! God!"

I cleared my throat, trying to nudge him off me. "Okay, that's enough. Sit up."

He didn't move. In fact, he wrapped an arm around me, holding me tighter.

"No," he whined playfully. "You promised you'd keep me company at work."

"I am keeping you company!"

"Not close enough," he murmured, burying his face in the crook of my neck and taking a deep breath. "Sophie, you smell so good."

He said that same phrase again, and I felt my entire body go up in flames from the sheer shyness.

Meanwhile, Lydia looked like she had been turned to stone, her phone wobbling in her hand.

I immediately hung up.

If I let her watch any longer, Ryan would have broadcast all my secrets to the entire world.

"Ryan!" I hissed, pushing him away with a mask of flustered annoyance.

He finally sat up, but his eyes, sparkling like honey-dipped stars, were fixed on me. I could see my own reflection in them.

"Sophie, are you mad at me?" he asked with genuine worry.

"No!" I snapped, a little too quickly.

He reached out, his cool fingertips brushing against my cheek. "Then why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"

I slapped his hand away and swiveled in my chair, using the computer monitor to hide my flaming face.

I fought to keep my head, telling myself that I was the queen in control and that I absolutely could not afford to be bewitched by his devastating charms.

I kept taking a deep breath.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from Lydia.

Lydia: [I take it all back. I thought you were a moth flying into a flame with your crush on Ryan, but you've basically adopted the world's most loyal wolf-dog! Tell me your secrets! I need to know how to do this with my dream guy!]

I read the text, and a huge grin spread across my face.

After all, I knew my own worth. If I set my sights on a man, he was as good as mine.

I glanced back at the man beside me, who was still watching me with a worried expression. That little bubble of pride inside me inflated even more.

Honestly, having a cold-blooded CEO wrapped around my finger like this felt so absolutely intoxicating.