CHAPTER 2

Zane leaned against the kitchen counter for a moment after Maya’s hurried departure, his silver eyes following the path she’d taken. Her oversized shirt had done little to hide the curves of her body, and he couldn’t shake the memory of her wide, startled eyes and flushed cheeks. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he reached for a glass of water.

He glanced at his watch, reminding himself of the purpose of his visit. Time was ticking, and distractions—even charming ones—weren’t part of the plan. Refocusing his thoughts, he downed the water, set the glass in the sink, and strode back toward Charles’ office.

Inside, Charles was just hanging up a call. The older man, ever the picture of control and precision, gestured for Zane to take a seat across from him.

“Apologies for the interruption,” Charles said, adjusting his glasses. “Where were we?”

“Discussing the terms of the acquisition,” Zane replied smoothly, sitting down. His posture was relaxed, his tailored suit flawless, but his mind briefly flicked back to the girl upstairs—Maya, Charles’ daughter. The revelation had surprised him; Charles had never mentioned having a daughter, let alone someone so intriguing and delectable.

As Charles spoke, outlining the finer points of their business arrangement, Zane debated bringing her up. Part of him was curious—Why hadn’t Charles mentioned her? Another part warned him against it, not wanting to raise any unnecessary suspicion or derail their negotiations.

He nodded along to Charles’ words, forcing himself to focus. The deal they were discussing was pivotal, a merger that would expand his company’s influence in multiple industries. It required his full attention, and Zane prided himself on being a man who never let personal distractions interfere with business.

Still, Maya lingered at the edges of his thoughts. There was something about her—her startled innocence, the way she’d nervously ended her call and apologized for her state of dress. She had a natural beauty that didn’t need the polish or pretense he often saw in the women he encountered.

“Zane?” Charles’ voice pulled him back.

“Apologies,” Zane said, his expression impassive. “You were saying?”

Charles studied him for a moment, then continued, outlining the financial projections. Zane nodded, asking pointed questions when necessary, but deep down, a part of his mind remained with Maya. He pushed her out of his thoughts with effort, determined not to let anything interfere with the task at hand.

For now, business came first. The rest could wait.

—

The huge headquarters of Moretti Corp towered over the skyline, its sleek glass facade mirrored against steel and concrete below. As the car pulled in to the private entrance, Zane exited the vehicle. The air was crisp outside, tanged with the faint hum of traffic. Gleaming under the morning sun, the lobby was a treasure of polished marble floors, a cascading waterfall feature, and sharp furnishings creaking loudly with power and prestige.

Waiting for him inside were Alex, his head of security and best friend, along with Ivan, his razor-sharp, young personal assistant. They fell promptly into step beside Zane as Ivan listed the day's agenda.

"We've received responses from the board about the acquisition," Ivan said, rushing the words. "They are supportive, but a few have raised concerns on potential conflicts. You've got a meeting with the PR team at 11 to sort this out. Also, the preliminary draft for the joint venture agreement with WestCorp is ready for your review. Your 2 o'clock with the finance department has been rescheduled for 3.”

Zane nodded as they stepped into the private elevator. "Send the draft to legal to revise, reschedule the PR meeting for noon, and make sure we've locked in WestCorp's compliance details before I review the draft."

"Yes, sir." Ivan nodded furiously, tapping away on the tablet. The elevator landed on the top floor with a metallic ding. Ivan inclined his head slightly. "I'll take care of it, right away." Then he hurried off.

Zane and Alex entered his office-a huge expanse of luxurious space. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed a skyline of the city, while tinted glass walls provided privacy. A sleek black desk commanded the middle of the room, nearly free from any clutter save for a minimalist lamp and a laptop. A bespoke couch in leather and two leather armchairs sat in the corner, accompanied by a low glass coffee table with one lonely orchid on it. It was a room of efficiency and taste, much like the man occupying it.

"So, what's new?" Zane asked as he tossed his suit onto a chair and headed toward the desk.

Alex replied, "A few things. Security flagged some unusual activity on our overseas accounts. I have sent someone to look into it, but I will keep you updated. The private investigator got back to me about the possible leaks in your negotiations with WestCorp; looks like it was someone on their side. Nothing critical got out, though.”

"Good." Zane nodded, sat and pulled his phone out. He was typing away quickly with his long fingers flying over the screen as he composed a message and sent it.

Moe, I need a background check on Charles Davis' daughter. Name: Maya Davis. Run it now.

Alex, ever nosy, craned his neck across over Zane's shoulder to see the message. "Maya Davis? Who's that?”

"Mind your business," Zane said, never looking up, his tone sharp though not wholly unkind.

Alex smirked. "That doesn't sound like just business. Don't tell me Charles' daughter caught your eye?"

Zane shot him a warning glance, to which Alex paid no mind.

"Oh, this is rich," Alex said, continuing, a grin spreading across his face. "The ice king himself, interested in someone who's not a business deal or a chess piece? What happened? Did she wink at you? Spill something on your precious suit?"

"Alex," Zane said flatly, low-voiced and edgy with impatience. "If you want to keep your job, shut up."

Alex raised his hands in a mock surrender, although his grin never faltered. "Fine, fine. Seriously, though, you need to be really careful. You're playing with fire here, Zane. You screw this up, and Charles could pull the plug on the deal. This acquisition isn't just beneficial; it's vital.".

“I know, Zane said curtly, leaning back in his chair. His eyes flashed to Alex's, steady and sure. “You think I'd blow all this for a woman? I can handle it.”

Alex watched him a second longer before nodding. “Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you. Just be…careful.” He turned and moved toward the door. “I'll stop in later.”

“Please don't." Zane grumbled over him, already waving him off.

The door closed behind Alex, and Zane was left to the soft hum of his office. His gaze was set on his phone, the text across to Moe delivered but not returned. Beneath his cool, impatience churned. He couldn't wait; he pulled up a G****e search on Maya Davis.

Results were pretty sparse: a few mentions in old local articles, mostly about her father's philanthropy or business ventures; nothing else really came up. No personal details, no recent photos, just nothing of real substance. It was as if she had managed to slip under the radar and lived a life far removed from her father's fame. Charles must've hid her well.

Zane let out a frustrated puff and dropped his phone onto the desk. He was not used to being denied information. Usually, people came about as easily as an old threadbare sweater. Maya remained an enigma.

His mind strayed to their brief meeting.  Most people fell into either category: trying too hard to impress him, or scared of him. But Maya had been real. Unpolished. Totally oblivious to the effect she'd had on him.

Zane's phone buzzed, breaking his thoughts. He snatched it up; his chest doing a weird flip at the sight of a message from Moe.

Got it. Give me a few hours for the full report. Will update ASAP.

Zane leaned back in his chair and bit his lip. "Let's see who you are, Maya Davis.”