e enigmatic Raphael, yet his presence linger

the company's strict no-dating policy. Their romantic entanglement forced them to find employment elsewhere, le

two dates, to be precise, both of which were absolute disasters. No matter who I met, I found myself compar

hake. Raphael had taken over my thoughts, leaving no room for anything-or anyone-el

colleagues on the way to the announcement hall. The CFO had called a

taller than his five-foot-eight frame actually allowed. He was dressed in

Though, it hurt to see someone so free-spirited, be in love with the CFO of our company. The unreq

said, handing me a macaron he'd swiped from the cafeteria.

ting the treat. "You do kn

n. "You mean to tell me that these rich, chocolatey strands-" he reached out, br

he macaron. "Yes, Kyle. I'm not

rains, beauty, and an impressive knack for avoiding

d. "Excu

lly. "Come on. Two dates, tw

a sip of my coff

d, his grin widening. "Y

ne. Date number one was

e from HR? You do know they're basically the company's personal FBI, ri

n HR until he started asking me abou

vering his mouth

about work, he switched topics... to the company's retirement pla

God, you poor thing

was cryptocurrency and why I should 'diversi

e nearly spilled his coffee. "Please

uote, 'Strong women should be independen

gall!" He clutched my arm dramatically. "I'm so s

," I de

love. One day, a decent man will waltz i

mind betrayed me, immediately

es. "Oh no. That fac

ed. "Wh

s bad for me but I can't help myself

ed. "It's

w often you talk about men-which is never-it

hoping to defle

h my God. Is it the mystery guy you ran into last w

ens

idened. "It i

le, can you pl

w and conspiratorial. "What did he do to you? Was it

d his ar

d. "Come on, just

dangerous, like invoking something I c

"His name

t up. "Oh. That

t argue w

a microphone being tapped caught our attention.

d. But this conversation is far from over."

ng, and beautiful ?". He said,

ad the same look I al

been acquired, and we were about to meet our new CEO. Strangely, Annabel se

or Mr. Joaquin Raphael Steel," she anno

. All the color drained from my face. My stomach twisted i

phael. The man who had hau

iss on his lips. His expression briefly flickered with

st me, or does he look like h

pond. My throa

is stunning, but that was the stiffest kiss I've ever seen. Like, does he even like he

nse silence. He hadn't noticed me-yet. I did my best to

first time, I

ile-it was the kind a p

llowe

rapped.