The CEO's Midnight Secret

After the meeting adjourned, Clara retreated to her small, windowless office on the twelfth floor to review supply chain manifests.

*Knock. Knock.*

The door pushed open before she could answer. Victoria Sterling stood on the threshold, leaning against the doorframe with a patronizing smirk, holding a stack of marketing brochures.

"Working hard, Clara, or hardly working?" Victoria purred, stepping into the room uninvited. "You know, it’s fascinating how someone with your... modest background managed to land a high-level consulting contract right after Alexander took over this division. People in the office are starting to whisper."

Clara looked up from her screen, her green eyes steady and unbothered. "If people have something to say to me, Victoria, they usually have the spine to say it across a conference table. If you're here to talk about logistics, make an appointment with my assistant."

Victoria’s smile tightened, her manicured fingers digging into the edge of the brochures. "You think you're untouchable because the CEO treats you with a bit of professional courtesy? Alexander has a legacy to uphold, darling. His mother is currently arranging a dinner with the Board of Governors to introduce him to Senator Vance’s daughter. A girl from the wrong side of the tracks like you... you're just a temporary distraction. A weekend hobby."

"Is that all?" Clara asked, her voice calm, icy, and entirely unaffected. "Because my schedule is quite full."

Victoria sneered, tossing an envelope onto Clara’s desk. "Just thought you might want to see what real corporate pedigree looks like before you pack your little gray cleaning uniform and head back to the suburbs."

With that, Victoria turned on her heel and strutted out of the office.

Clara looked down at the envelope. She didn't open it immediately. Instead, she reached for her phone and dialed a private extension.

"Vance," Alexander's deep voice answered on the first ring.

"Your fan club is visiting my office again," Clara said dryly.

"Do you want me to have security escort her out of the building?" Alexander asked instantly, dropping all corporate formality.

"No," Clara replied, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across her lips. "Let her play her hand. But Alexandre... I think someone in procurement is leaking our upcoming vendor bids to Victoria's marketing team."

A heavy, lethal pause hung on the line.

"I'll have internal audit pull every digital access log by noon," Alexander said softly. "And Clara? Tonight, we’re having dinner at my place. No work. Just us."