Chapter 7

Amber POV: Two weeks later

I woke up earlier than usual, switching off the alarm before the first beep could slice through the silence. Today was going to be a long day, and I needed my routine to keep the lingering shadows of my mind at bay. After changing into joggers and a worn-out tee, I stepped out into the crisp morning air to jog through my neighborhood.

In the fourteen days since that night, I had been aggressively practical. I’d told my friends no more drinking on weekdays and ruthlessly edited the reckless "List" of its filthiest items, replacing them with quieter goals. I was turning thirty soon; I needed a trip to an island, not another descent into chaos.

As I made my way back to my apartment, a prickle of unease crawled up my spine and it felt like I was being watched. I slowed my pace, glancing over my shoulder to scan the environment. There was nothing significant except for a small black car parked across the street, with windows so dark they looked like ink sat idling. Though it felt out of place in this sleepy neighborhood, there was no noticeable movement so it probably belonged to an overnight guest.

Shaking off the chill, I hurried upstairs to continue my preparations.

By 7:30 a.m., I was already at Lumena Entertainment, placing a fresh coffee on Mr. Gems’s desk. I retreated to my own station to prep for the day’s main event: a high-stakes business proposal from Artisan Scents. The company was home to high end luxury fragrances that cost more than my monthly rent.

They were on the look out for a suitable entertainment company to collaborate with, which would be a massive win if Lumena secured. The executives had been on edge for two weeks since the offer arrived, which meant the support staff, including me, had been the target of their mounting frustration.

Luckily, Mr. Gems remained relatively calm, until the clock hit nine.

“Amber,” he said briskly, shedding his winter coat as he moved like a whirlwind. “Have you reviewed the brief for the meeting?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve sent a summary to your email,” I replied, moving to hand him his tablet.

“Good, because you’re sitting in with me.”

I froze in my tracks. “Huh?”

He smiled at my stunned expression. "The CEO requested a minute-taker with high efficiency so I put your name forward. Don’t look so panicked; it’s a great opportunity."

I nodded, beaming at the compliment despite the sudden weight of extra work. He checked his watch and hurried me toward the executive floor. Just as we reached the heavy oak doors of the conference room, he cursed under his breath.

“I forgot the legal addendum for the new artist’s contract. Legal needs it by ten, or we lose the filing window.” He looked at me pleadingly. “Amber, please run back, grab it from my top drawer, and drop it at legal. Then come straight to the meeting.”

I didn’t hesitate, sprinting back to his office immediately, sorted through his files, and delivered the document to the Legal department with minutes to spare. By the time I made it back to the executive floor, I was twenty minutes late. My heart hammered against my ribs as I approached the conference room.

Guarding the door was a man who looked less like a corporate security guard and more like a human tank. His black suit was tailored to hide a massive frame, and his eyes were cold as ice.

“Good day. I’m supposed to be in the meeting,” I said, trying to steady my breathing.

He didn’t check a clip-board or call inside. He simply looked me over with an unsettling intensity. “Are you Miss Amber Ross?”

“Yes,” I answered, taken aback.

He stepped aside, pulling the door open for me before I could raise a question. I slipped into the darkened room, my tablet hugged to my chest like a shield. The lights were dimmed for a presentation, casting long, sharp shadows across the faces of the city’s most powerful executives. I scurried to the empty chair beside Mr. Gems, keeping my head low as I began typing notes.

The presentation ended, and the lights flickered to life. I blinked, adjusting to the brightness, and that’s when I smelled the scent of leather and clean smoke.

My blood turned to ice, and I looked toward the head of the table. Seated beside our CEO, Mr. Kennedy was the man from the bar… my one night stand.

He sat with his jacket draped over the back of his chair, sleeves rolled back to reveal powerful forearms. His gaze wasn't on the documents or Mr. Kennedy who was seated next to him; it was locked on me with a terrifying focus.

“I hope you find our company suitable after this presentation, Mr. Toretto,” Mr. Kennedy said, his voice dripping with eagerness.

I looked down at my tablet, my fingers trembling as I finally looked at the name I had ignored all morning. Bold, black letters stared back at me: Dominic Toretto.

The man from the bar wasn't just a stranger. He was the CEO of Artisan Scents, and he was currently watching me like I was the only person in the room.

“Ah, Miss Ross,” Mr. Kennedy cleared his throat, noticing the heavy silence. “You’ve finally joined us.”

“Yes, sir. I apologize for the delay,” I forced out, my voice sounding thin to my own ears.

Dominic didn’t look away. “No issue.”

His voice was a deep, lethal vibrato that resonated in the pit of my stomach. “Artisan Scents finds Lumena Entertainment quite suitable. However, we are selective about the face of our brand.”

He leaned back, his hands folding over his chest. He looked polished, but there was an underlying current to his stillness that made my skin hum.

“This partnership will require total coordination,” a representative from his side continued. “We will be moving into the onboarding phase immediately. We require discretion and staff who can handle high pressure environment and confidentiality.”

“Of course, Mr. Toretto,” Mr. Kennedy assured him. “We will provide our most efficient team.”

Dominic’s eyes flicked to mine, a slow smirk ghosting his lips. “Good.”

The rest of the meeting was a blur of signatures and handshakes. I buried myself in my work, my fingers flying across the screen, desperate to remain invisible. When the chairs finally shifted, signaling the end, I moved to bolt. I gathered my things, weaving through the chattering executives toward the exit.

I was three inches from the door when his voice stopped me dead.

“Mr. Gems,” Dominic’s voice rumbled through the room, cutting through the noise like a blade. “Please have your secretary send the minutes of this meeting to my private server.”

I didn't turn around, shutting my eyes as the inevitable finally caught up to me.

Oh shit.