Carlee leaned back in her leather chair. She reached out and took the manila envelope from Braden's hands.
She pulled the single sheet of paper out and smoothed it flat on her desk.
Her eyes dropped to the top of the page. The name was printed in bold, black ink: Braden Vaughan.
Carlee's entire body went rigid. The breath was punched out of her lungs. Her pupils dilated as she stared at the surname that had haunted her for three years.
The air in the small office instantly turned to lead. Lena, sensing the sudden, violent shift in the atmosphere, stopped breathing and took a step back.
Braden stood perfectly still in front of the desk. His hands hung loosely at his sides. His dark eyes watched her face, waiting for the explosion.
Carlee snapped her head up. Her eyes were sharp, furious daggers.
"Why is your last name Vaughan?" she demanded, her voice dropping to a lethal whisper.
Braden didn't flinch. He let out a soft, self-deprecating sigh. He reached up and pushed his cheap glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"It's a curse, honestly," Braden said, his tone dripping with exhaustion. "I'm from a distant, entirely disowned branch of the Vaughan family. My grandfather was cut off decades ago, and we haven't seen a single dime of their money since, but the name still brings me nothing but endless trouble." He offered a bitter, perfectly crafted smile. "I saw the Page Six article this morning. Believe me, my landlord has been making jokes about me being the 'blind heir' all day while simultaneously demanding my overdue rent."
Carlee stared hard into his eyes, searching for a lie. Her brain spun rapidly.
She had never cared enough to learn her husband's first name. But her logic quickly built a wall. The man who controlled the global Vaughan empire would never stand in a cramped office wearing a stiff, cheap suit, begging for twenty-five dollars an hour.
The logic clicked into place. The tension drained from Carlee's shoulders. She let out a harsh scoff.
"It's a disgusting name," Carlee muttered, looking back down at the paper.
Braden's eyes darkened for a fraction of a second, a flicker of wicked amusement dancing in the black depths. He kept his face perfectly humble.
Carlee flipped to the second page. She saw the photocopies of three maxed-out credit card statements. A brief flash of pity softened her eyes.
She folded her hands on the desk, instantly shifting into a ruthless boss. She began firing off questions.
She threw impossible scenarios at him-scheduling conflicts, PR nightmares, hostile client negotiations.
Braden answered without missing a beat. Drawing on a decade of crushing corporate enemies, he stripped the problems down to their core logic and offered flawless, brutal solutions. He spoke with a calm, unshakeable rhythm.
Carlee's eyes widened. The admiration in her chest swelled. She was completely captivated by this man who was so brilliant, so handsome, and yet so desperately poor.
She slammed her hand flat on the desk. "You're hired. One month probation. Lena will show you the ropes."
Braden bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Ms. Barron." Even in the cheap suit, the movement carried a terrifying, aristocratic grace.
Lena led Braden out to a tiny desk in the outer room. She dropped a massive stack of data entry forms next to his keyboard.
Braden sat down. The cheap ergonomic chair wobbled violently under his weight. He stared at the outdated monitor, his jaw clenching in disgust.
But he cracked his knuckles and started typing. His fingers flew across the keyboard with terrifying speed.
Through the blinds, Carlee watched him work. A massive, uncontrollable smile broke across her face. She had found a diamond in the rough.
During the lunch hour, Carlee walked toward the breakroom to get coffee.
As she approached the door, she heard Lena's voice. "So, Braden... do you have a girlfriend?"
Carlee's feet stopped dead. Her stomach plummeted. She held her breath, pressing her back against the wall.
"I'm married," Braden's deep voice replied instantly.
A sharp, ugly spike of jealousy pierced Carlee's chest. Her jaw tightened. She stepped into the doorway, her face a mask of cold fury.
"Keep your personal life out of my office," Carlee snapped, glaring at him.
Braden looked up from his coffee. He saw the raw jealousy burning in her eyes. The dark, possessive beast inside him purred.
He leaned against the counter, his eyes locking onto hers with intense, suffocating heat.
"Don't worry," Braden murmured, his voice thick with double meaning. "My wife is an extremely difficult woman to deal with."
Carlee's heart did a violent flip. The sheer heat in his gaze made her skin burn. Unable to hold eye contact, she grabbed her mug and practically ran back to her office.
