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Chapter 8
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2025-04-21 14:34:58
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ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 9
The weeks that followed felt like a slow burn. The tension between Madison and Sebastian simmered under the surface—never quite breaking, but always present. Their interactions were a mix of professional distance and something far more intimate, something Madison wasn’t sure how to navigate.Every glance they shared felt loaded, as though every smile was a silent admission of the chemistry they couldn’t ignore. But in the office, they maintained their professional personas. When the day was over, Madison would leave with the weight of their unspoken words following her, but she never reached out first. She couldn’t—she was still trying to figure out what all of it meant.One Evening at the OfficeIt was a Thursday evening when Madison found herself staying late at the office, going over the new project briefs for the upcoming quarter. The office was quieter than usual, with most people having already gone home for the day.She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to stay focused a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 10
The days that followed were a mixture of moments that seemed ordinary yet carried weight. Madison had come to terms with the fact that her connection with Sebastian wasn’t just a fleeting attraction—it was something deeper, something she couldn’t quite put into words. It was as if, little by little, their interactions were beginning to peel back the layers they both kept hidden.Madison had always been the kind of person who kept her emotions tightly guarded, never letting them spill over into the professional world. But with Sebastian, it was different. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the shared vulnerability between them or the way he made her feel safe to be herself, but the guard she had spent so long building was slowly beginning to crumble.A Surprise VisitOne Friday afternoon, the office was buzzing with end-of-week energy. People were wrapping up their tasks, preparing to leave for the weekend. Madison was at her desk, reviewing some reports when her phone buzzed with a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 11
The days that followed their weekend getaway were a blur for Madison. The office felt different when she walked in that Monday morning, as though the walls themselves could sense the shift in her emotions. She wasn’t sure if it was the memories of their time away that weighed on her or the awareness that things had become more complicated between her and Sebastian. Whatever it was, it seemed like every interaction was charged with an energy she hadn’t anticipated.Madison tried her best to maintain her composure at work, but the looks Sebastian gave her across the conference room table, the subtle touches when their hands brushed while exchanging files—it was all becoming too much to ignore. The professional distance they had once kept was now blurred, and neither of them seemed willing to take a step back.That afternoon, as the office emptied out for the day, Madison found herself alone in the elevator with Sebastian. The tension between them was thick, suffocating even. Neither of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 12
The days following their conversation were a blur for Madison. Every time she passed Sebastian in the office, there was a quiet, unspoken acknowledgment of the shift that had occurred between them. The atmosphere, once professional and cool, now carried an undercurrent of something more—a delicate tension that neither of them dared to speak of aloud.Madison tried to focus on her work, but it became increasingly difficult to ignore the way her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She was afraid of what it meant, afraid of the risks involved, but there was also a part of her that felt alive in a way she hadn't in a long time.Her decision to take things slowly seemed like the right choice, but every time their eyes met, it became harder to stick to that resolution. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t let this affect her career, that she wouldn’t let the growing feelings for Sebastian cloud her judgment, but the lines between personal and professional were starting to blur in a wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 13
The days following their conversation were a blur for Madison. Every time she passed Sebastian in the office, there was a quiet, unspoken acknowledgment of the shift that had occurred between them. The atmosphere, once professional and cool, now carried an undercurrent of something more—a delicate tension that neither of them dared to speak of aloud.Madison tried to focus on her work, but it became increasingly difficult to ignore the way her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She was afraid of what it meant, afraid of the risks involved, but there was also a part of her that felt alive in a way she hadn't in a long time.Her decision to take things slowly seemed like the right choice, but every time their eyes met, it became harder to stick to that resolution. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t let this affect her career, that she wouldn’t let the growing feelings for Sebastian cloud her judgment, but the lines between personal and professional were starting to blur in a wa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 14
The days that followed the conference were a blur.Madison tried to lose herself in spreadsheets, reports, and weekly status updates, but her mind refused to cooperate. No matter how many emails she drafted or numbers she crunched, Sebastian was always there—on the other side of the office floor, behind glass walls, in every strategic meeting, and worst of all, in her thoughts.He was always calm, composed, and disarmingly charming. But there were stolen glances. Lingering looks. That quiet tension humming between them like a live wire.Madison hated how much she noticed him.Worse, she hated how much she liked it.It was wrong. She knew it was wrong. He was the CEO, and she was… well, no one special. Just one of the hundreds of employees trying to keep their heads down and do their job. And yet—One morning, she walked into the elevator and stopped short.He was already there.The doors slid closed before she could back out."Good morning, Madison," Sebastian said smoothly.She nodde
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 15
Madison’s hands trembled slightly as she stepped out of the elevator on the 48th floor, where Sebastian Sanford’s executive office loomed like a thundercloud. Days had passed since their explosive confrontation—the revelation that the man she had a one-night stand with was the CEO of her company. And now… she was being transferred. Promoted, technically, as Executive Assistant to the CEO. But in reality, it felt more like a sentence.And the worst part? She hadn’t even said yes.“Madison,” drawled Clarisse, Sebastian’s current assistant, with a faint smirk. “He’s expecting you.”Madison swallowed the lump in her throat and walked through the glass doors, heels clicking against the marble. The room was immaculate, dark wood meeting steel and glass. Power and prestige in architecture. But Madison only saw him—Sebastian, behind the desk, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened. His eyes lifted slowly. Piercing. Complicated.“Sit,” he said quietly.“I didn’t agree to this,” she said, crossing her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-21ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 16
Madison knew something had shifted.Ever since that night at the gala and the moment Sebastian had brushed her cheek with a kind of tenderness she hadn’t expected, there was a strange stillness between them. Not the cold, intimidating kind that used to send her scrambling to appease his sharp moods, but the kind that hummed with too many unsaid things.She tried to convince herself it was nothing. Maybe it was just the wine. Or the pressure. Or the damn lighting in that ballroom. But deep down, she knew better.Sebastian hadn’t looked at her the same way since.And today was no different. She walked into the conference room with a straight back and measured steps, pretending she didn’t feel his gaze following her every move as she distributed the printed reports.“Thank you, Madison,” he said after a beat, his voice lower than usual. Almost soft.She nodded, not trusting herself to speak without her voice cracking.Everyone else in the room seemed oblivious to the subtle shift in atmo
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ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 30
The early morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across Madison's office. She sat behind her desk, fingers hesitating over the keyboard. The quiet of the office was a welcome contrast to the storm of emotions she had been wrestling with the past few days. The photos had circulated like wildfire, and the whispers, even in the supposedly professional atmosphere, were unavoidable. Some employees had been kind enough to avoid bringing up the topic directly, but others weren’t so subtle. She could feel the eyes, the curiosity, the judgment.It had been days since the gossip broke out, but the weight of it still lingered.She’d tried to bury herself in work, focusing on the spreadsheets and the meetings, pretending everything was fine. But it wasn’t. And it certainly didn’t help that Sebastian, her boss, had been unusually distant. His once warm, piercing gaze now felt more guarded whenever he passed by her office. The warmth between them had turned into an unspoken
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 29
The week flew by in a flurry of emotions, with Madison grappling with the knowledge that meeting Sebastian’s family was now unavoidable. It was one of those moments she had both anticipated and dreaded. She had heard Sebastian talk about them on numerous occasions, his love for them unmistakable in his words. But she had also heard the underlying tension in his voice at times—his desire to break free from their expectations, the weight of their influence over his life.She knew the stakes were high. Family was everything to Sebastian, and although he had never pressured her to meet them, the timing felt significant. This was a new chapter in their relationship. No longer was she just the woman he spent time with in secret or at casual coffee shops. Now, she was about to step into the world that had shaped him, a world she could never fully understand but wanted to try to be a part of.Madison stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress for the fourth time that evening. It was a
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 28
The days following their heart-to-heart conversation at the café passed in a blur of emotions and uncertainty for Madison. Despite the calmness that seemed to settle between her and Sebastian, there were still many unanswered questions, lingering doubts, and insecurities she couldn’t shake. She had agreed to take the chance with him, but the weight of her decision was heavier than she had anticipated.She was still unsure of how she fit into his world. It wasn’t just about Sebastian—it was the world he came from, his family, the expectations, the glitz, and glamour of it all. Madison had always been grounded, simple, and she had always kept a steady distance from the excesses that came with wealth and privilege. But Sebastian wasn’t asking her to dive into that world; he was simply asking her to be with him, to be part of his life in the most intimate way possible.It was the intimacy, the vulnerability, that scared her. The thought of letting someone so deeply into her life, allowing
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 27
The next few days passed in a haze of emotions for Madison. The conversation at the restaurant with Sebastian had left her feeling both lighter and heavier at the same time. She had spoken her truth, confessed her fears, and yet, somehow, it didn’t feel like it had changed anything. They were still caught in the same cycle of uncertainty, both hesitant but yearning for something more. Despite her resolve to take it slow, Madison knew that avoiding the situation was no longer an option.She could feel herself being drawn closer to him with every passing day, and it both thrilled and terrified her. What Sebastian was offering her—his sincerity, his commitment—was something Madison had always longed for but had never thought she’d find, especially not in a man like him. The question that plagued her, though, was simple: Could she really allow herself to fall for him, given all the complications that came with his world?Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of her phone, the screen l
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 26
The following days felt like a blur to Madison. She had avoided Sebastian’s calls at first, giving herself the time and space she had so desperately needed. The emotions from that night at the Sanford family dinner had left her in a state of chaos, and she didn’t trust herself to respond in a way that felt right. She could still hear his words from the phone call echoing in her mind: “Take your time. I’m not asking for anything more than what you’re willing to give. I just want you in my life, Madison.”But what did that mean? What exactly did Sebastian want from her? And more importantly, what did she want from him?Her days were filled with long hours at work, keeping her mind distracted with the steady hum of office life. But when the workday ended, and she found herself alone in the quiet of her apartment, the questions always came rushing back. Her mind wandered to the quiet moments they had shared—those stolen glances, the heated kisses, the gentle conversations—and the more she
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 25
Madison’s fingers brushed against the cool surface of the doorknob as she quietly exited the grand estate, a sense of relief washing over her as the weight of the Sanford family’s scrutinizing gaze finally faded into the distance. The sound of the door clicking shut behind her felt like a small victory, though the anxiety that had settled in her chest throughout the evening remained. Her heels clicked sharply against the stone walkway as she made her way to the car, the night air cool against her flushed skin.She had never felt more out of place. The expansive, opulent mansion, the eyes of Sebastian’s family on her—it had all felt like a test. She wasn’t sure she had passed, but it was clear from the moment they sat down to dinner that she had failed in some way she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She had tried to smile, to answer their questions with the politeness expected of a guest, but underneath it all, she felt like an outsider in a world she could never truly belong to.Wha
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 24
The invitation had come unexpectedly—Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the line, warm but with an edge of something Madison couldn’t quite place.“Madison, I want you to meet my family,” he had said. “Tomorrow night, a casual dinner. You’ve been a part of my life for some time now, and it feels right. Are you free?”Madison, caught off-guard by the sudden shift from their usual professional exchanges, had hesitated. Their encounters had been a whirlwind of stolen moments, secret meetings, and mounting tension, but the thought of stepping into Sebastian’s world felt daunting. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.“I’ll be there,” she had said, a quiet resolve settling in her chest.And so, here she was—standing at the entrance of the elegant Sanford family estate, a striking contrast to her modest apartment. The expansive mansion before her loomed with grandeur, the elegant stone pillars casting long shadows across the entrance. She felt small in comparison to the opulence s
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 23
The message was a cold reminder that things were far from over. Madison sat at her desk in her small apartment, her phone resting in her palm. The words were etched in her mind: “I know what you’re up to. You won’t get away with this. I’ll make sure of it.”Who could it be? She ran through the possibilities in her head—was it someone from her past? Maybe someone who had been hurt in the process of her unexpected involvement with Sebastian? Or worse, was it someone who knew too much about them, someone who wanted to exploit their relationship for their own gain?She wanted to confront Sebastian right away, but after their conversation the day before, she didn’t know how to explain the new twist in her life. She wasn’t sure if she could handle more secrets or complications in their already delicate dynamic.Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Should she respond to the anonymous message? Ignoring it might be a form of surrender, but acknowledging it could potentially put her—and Sebas
ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER Chapter 22
The days after the leak felt like they dragged on forever, each one a battle with both internal and external forces. Madison had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. The constant barrage of public judgment, the whispers at the office, and even Sebastian’s protective gaze made everything feel heavier.But what weighed on her most wasn’t the scandal—it was the creeping feeling that something had changed between her and Sebastian. Not in the way she had hoped, but in the way she feared.One afternoon, Madison found herself in her favorite coffee shop, nursing a cappuccino as she stared out the window. The hum of conversation around her felt distant, almost surreal. Her phone buzzed in her bag, and for a moment, she considered ignoring it, but she knew better.It was Sebastian. His name flashed on the screen, and she hesitated before answering.“Madison,” his voice sounded tense. “I need you to come to the office.”“I’m not sure if I’m ready to face it all again, Sebastian,” she replied,
