Page 13 of Dark Seduction

"Any questions?" I ask, opening the floor for discussion.

There are a few questions, and I handle them smartly, keeping the conversation focused and productive. As the meeting comes to an end, the attendees file out, leaving me with a brief moment of quiet. That is, until Melissa Barnes, the HR director, approaches me.

"Lev, are you OK?" she asks, concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine," I reply brusquely, not in the mood for small talk.

She smiles, clearly used to my stern disposition. "You know, it's OK to take a day off now and then. Most people aren't built to handle eighty-plus hour work weeks."

I'm not like most people, I think to myself.I can't afford to be.

"Your new PA started this morning," Melissa continues, not missing a beat. "She's in orientation now. Having an assistant should ease your workload a bit."

I nod, taking in the information. "Good. I need someone who can keep up."

"Don't worry," Melissa says with a reassuring smile. "I handpicked her myself. And you already approved her qualifications. I think she'll be a winner."

I give a curt nod, appreciating her effort but not showing it. "Thank you, Melissa. I'll make sure to meet her soon."

"Actually, you can meet her now," Melissa says with a smile.

"Fine. Send her to my office."

Melissa nods. "Will do," she says before departing.

I make my way through the bustling executive floor to my office. Stepping into the massive, modern room, I take a moment to appreciate the view.

The Chicago skyline stretches out before me, the lake's vast expanse reaching off into the horizon. It's a view I've seen countless times, but today, it does little to distract me from my thoughts.

I can't believe I've been fantasizing about Dalia the way I have. No woman has ever gotten into my head like this. Shaking off the thought, I try to refocus on the tasks at hand.

Before I can delve too deeply into my work, a knock sounds at the door.

“Come in,” I call out.

My jaw nearly drops to the floor when Dalia walks into my office.

At first, I think I'm imagining things, but when Melissa walks in with her, I know it's real.

"Lev, this is Dalia Abbas," Melissa says, introducing us. "Dalia, meet Lev Ivanov."

Dalia looks as surprised as I feel, but she recovers quickly, extending a hand.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ivanov."

"Likewise," I manage to say, shaking her hand. Her grip is firm and confident.

Melissa continues giving a rundown of Dalia's qualifications. "As we discussed, Dalia has a degree in art history from Brown and a master’s in business from the University of Chicago. She's highly recommended and comes with excellent references."

The qualifications sound familiar, but Melissa and I hadn’t gone over names when discussing the applicants.

Regardless, I'm impressed, but I'm also struggling to keep my mind professional. Dalia looks stunning—her hair pulled up in a sleek, professional style, wearing an off-white blouse and a black pencil skirt.

The outfit is a delicious contrast to the image of her in her bra and panties from the other night, stripping at my command, her gorgeous, heaving breasts pouring from her bra as she undid the clasp.

"Impressive credentials," I say. "Welcome to the team."

"Thank you," Dalia replies, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of curiosity and something more playful.

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