Chapter 2 Espresso shots and memory lapses

If there was one thing Lily Hart hadn't expected on her second day of shadowing a billionaire, it was a closet full of designer coffee mugs.

She stood in the CEO's private break room, staring at the shelf like she'd discovered a secret vault. White porcelain. Matte black. Gold-trimmed. One even said World's Sexiest Genius in glittering calligraphy.

"Clarissa wasn't kidding," she muttered under her breath. "He really does collect mugs like they're precious artifacts."

She reached for a plain navy one, only for a voice to say behind her, "Touch that mug and it's corporate war."

She jumped and nearly dropped it.

Jaxon Reid stood in the doorway, tie slightly loosened, amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I-uh-sorry," Lily stammered. "I didn't realize you were so emotionally attached to ceramics."

He stepped into the room. "That particular one was a gift from Elon Musk. Or maybe I bought it during a midnight Amazon spiral. Either way, it's mine."

Lily turned slowly. "So, you're a mug hoarder and a billionaire?"

"Careful," he said dryly. "You're one sarcastic comment away from being promoted."

She bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Noted."

He watched her for a second longer than necessary. "Coffee?"

"No, thank you."

He reached for a copper French press like a man who had absolutely never stepped inside a Starbucks in his life. "You don't drink coffee?"

"I do. I just assumed anything in this office might cost more than my rent."

A soft snort escaped him. "You're not wrong."

He poured himself a cup and leaned back against the counter. "How's day two treating you?"

"Well, I haven't cried in the bathroom yet, so I'd say it's going great."

"That's the bar?"

She grinned. "We all have our own benchmarks for success."

Back at her desk, Lily tried to focus on updating the client brief for a luxury real estate deal, but her mind kept drifting. Jaxon had laughed. Not a polite chuckle. An actual, warm, human laugh.

The boy she'd loved had always had a quiet sense of humor dry, observant, a little ridiculous. She hadn't seen that side of him since stepping back into this office. But it was there.

Beneath the Rolex and the billion-dollar smirk, he was still in there.

And she wasn't sure if that made things better... or much, much worse.

An hour later, she heard footsteps storming toward her desk.

Mira Donovan.

CEO of Strategy. Jaxon's best friend. And possibly a reincarnated ice queen in a power suit.

"Oh," Mira said, eyeing her. "You're the new temp."

"Lily Hart. Yes."

Mira raised a brow. "Hart. That name's familiar."

Lily stiffened.

Before she could answer, Mira leaned across her desk and hissed, "He doesn't like it when women flirt with him. Keep it professional, honey."

"I'm not-" Lily blinked. "I'm not flirting."

"Good. Because he's emotionally unavailable and allergic to commitment. He once ghosted a woman after she left a toothbrush at his penthouse."

Lily blinked. "Wow. That's... disturbingly specific."

"Just doing my part to keep the line short." Mira straightened with a smile as sharp as her heels and disappeared into Jaxon's office.

Lily muttered under her breath, "Is this a workplace or an episode of Survivor?"

By lunch, she needed fresh air.

She headed down to the ground floor, planning to grab a sandwich and spend five minutes not breathing rarefied billionaire office air. Instead, she ran straight into a brick wall.

A very expensive, Armani-wearing wall.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she gasped, looking up at Jaxon.

He didn't look upset. Just... surprised. "You always charge out of buildings like you're late for a revolution?"

"I was going to lunch."

"In a hurry?"

"To avoid being eaten alive by your executive team? Yes."

He raised a brow. "Mira said something, didn't she?"

"She said many things. Most of which would make great HR case studies."

A slow smile crept across his face. "You know what? Join me for lunch."

Lily blinked. "What?"

"I'm going across the street. You could use a break, and I could use someone who doesn't talk like a stock report."

She hesitated.

He added, "Unless you're worried about office gossip."

She met his eyes. "I'm more worried you'll make me eat something that costs more than my soul."

"I'll try to keep it under two thousand dollars."

The restaurant across the street was all glass chandeliers, soft jazz, and waiters who seemed trained in telepathy.

Jaxon barely sat before water was poured, bread was sliced, and the chef personally arrived to "prepare his usual."

Lily sat across from him, determined not to be impressed.

"Let me guess," she said. "You own this place too?"

"No. Just heavily invested. And they owe me a favor for saving them from a bad merger."

She blinked. "How very heroic of you."

"Don't mock me. I even wore a suit."

"You always wear a suit."

He gave her a look. "Exactly."

She laughed.

As they ate-some magical dish she couldn't pronounce but tasted like heaven, Jaxon leaned back and studied her.

"You're different," he said.

Lily froze.

"I mean from other people who work here," he added quickly. "You're not trying to impress me. Or seduce me. Or sell me something."

"Would it help my career if I tried?"

"Depends on how good the pitch is."

She tilted her head. "And what's yours, Mr. Reid?"

"My pitch?"

"You're a billionaire. You must have one."

He looked amused. "I used to. Now I just show them the balance sheet."

She shook her head. "You really don't remember me, do you?"

His fork paused midair. "Should I?"

Her stomach sank.

Of course he doesn't.

"I was just joking," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Bad habit. Ignore me."

But his eyes lingered on her face a moment too long. Then he said softly, "There's something about you."

Her heart stuttered.

"I'll figure it out," he added. "Eventually."

When they returned to the office, Clarissa was waiting with an armful of files and a look that said spill everything or die.

"Where have you been?" she hissed.

"Lunch."

"With him?!"

"Yes."

"God help you."

That evening, Lily stepped out of the building feeling like she'd just survived a week, not a day. Her phone buzzed.

Mason:

Hey. You still working? Just making sure you didn't pass out in a supply closet.

She smiled.

Lily:

Still alive. Long day. Weird lunch. Boss is slightly charming. Maybe dangerous.

Mason:

Dangerous charming or charming-dangerous?

Lily:

...both.

She looked up at the skyline. At the glass tower where her heart had once lived and almost died.

Jaxon Reid didn't remember her.

But he would.

And when he did?

God help them both.