Volkov

Chapter 1

I had recently landed a job at a company with a reputation that spoke for itself—a global powerhouse that had everyone buzzing. Not only did I snag the job, but I was appointed Head of Marketing at 26. Yes, let's all clap and celebrate my corporate glow-up.

With this new role came a shiny new chapter in my life. I had finally moved into an apartment of my own, a sleek and modern space that screamed independence. I was earning great money—scratch that, phenomenal money—so honestly, a girl couldn't complain. To top it all off, I'd been given a car allowance that let me indulge in my lifelong dream: a Jeep Wrangler. Me, behind the wheel of my sleek black baby, blasting music with the top down? Life was good. Really good.

Yet, as I sat eating lunch alone that afternoon, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of isolation. Why was I on my own? Because my stomach was growling, and my friends were busy living their happily-ever-afters with their husbands. My sister? Out of town. That left me, myself, and I.

Don't get me wrong; I was happy for my friends. Take Cynthia, for instance. Five years older than me, she'd been married to her hunk of chocolate, Thabo, for three years, and they were basically couple goals. Then there was Sade, who was just a year younger but already celebrating her third anniversary with Rasheed. And lastly, my younger sister, Rahima—just 22 years old and married for a year now. Yep, I'd been the bridesmaid at every single one of their weddings, throwing rice and toasting their love stories with a smile.

It wasn't like I hadn't tried my hand at relationships, though. It's just... nothing ever seemed to stick. My last relationship, with Mathew, had lasted a record four months. He was the kind of guy who ticked all the boxes: charming, successful, respectful—everything a girl could ask for. But somehow, I couldn't picture us together for the long haul. We broke things off amicably, and now, he was head over heels for his girlfriend, Tania. She wasn't exactly my biggest fan, but I didn't hold it against her. In fact, I was helping Mathew plan his proposal for her. The irony wasn't lost on me.

And then there was me: single, unattached, and—let's be honest—my love life was drier than the Kalahari Desert. At this point, I'd accepted that maybe Cupid was on an extended vacation when it came to me.

Once I finished my sandwich, I headed back to the office. Today was a big day. We'd just landed a major contract, and to add to the pressure, the elusive boss man was in town. Everyone was on their best behavior, laser-focused in a way I hadn't seen before. The energy in the building was practically crackling as I stepped into the lobby.

"Girl, where have you been?" Maggie, our vivacious receptionist, practically leapt out of her seat when she spotted me. She looked like she'd been dying to unload some juicy gossip.
"Lunch break," I said, curious but bracing myself.

"Listen, boss man is so fine. I swear, if I wasn't married to Jack, I'd risk it all," she said dramatically, fanning herself.

"Mags, don't exaggerate," I laughed, amused by her antics.

"I'm not playing! That man could melt butter just by looking at it. But..." She paused, screwing up her face. "He seems tense, though. Like he's got a stick permanently lodged somewhere."

"Good to know," I said, chuckling as I stepped into the elevator. Maggie always managed to brighten my day with her unfiltered commentary.

The ride up to the 17th floor gave me a moment to breathe. Our office was perched high enough to offer stunning views of the city skyline—my daily reminder of why I worked so hard. As soon as I stepped out, though, I was intercepted by none other than Richard, the office flirt.

"Hey mama, need me to escort you to your office?" he purred, his hand hovering dangerously close to my back.

"Touch me, and I'll burn your hand," I warned, sidestepping him with a glare.

"Oh, come on. When are you going to drop the 'hard to get' act? You know you want this," he said, gesturing at himself like he was God's gift to women.

The day I'd want Richard? Let's just say hell would freeze over, and heaven might, too.

I made it to my office without further incident and was greeted by my assistant-slash-bestie, Matthew. If Maggie was my sunshine, Matthew was my daily dose of laughter. He was flamboyant, sharp as a tack, and always ready to spill tea. Though I'd only been at the company for six months, we'd clicked immediately.

"Matthew, what's up?" I asked, sensing the mischievous glint in his eye as he waltzed into my office.

"Girl, I can't breathe! Have you seen him?" he said, fanning himself dramatically.

"Not you too," I groaned, shaking my head.

"I'm serious. That man is sex on legs. If you don't want him, I'll gladly take him off your hands," he teased, plopping into the chair opposite me.

"Matthew, we're supposed to be working, not drooling over men," I chided, though I couldn't help but laugh.

"Whatever, miss 'I'm married to my job.' You need to get laid, girl. You're sitting on all this chocolate goodness and not sharing the wealth? A tragedy."

"Thank the heavens you're not in charge of my love life," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

Before he could retort, I gathered my things for the management meeting. The day was already dragging, and it looked like I'd be burning the midnight oil to keep up with everything.

When I got to the elevator, I noticed a man struggling with his tie. I wasn't planning on engaging, but then I got a good look at him. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a peppered mix of black and gray hair that gave him an air of authority. And those eyes—piercing green, like they could see right through you. He exuded a quiet confidence, even as he wrestled with the piece of fabric in his hands.

"What floor are you going to?" he asked, his voice deep and smooth.

"Twenty-third," I replied, trying to keep my composure. His gaze locked on mine for a moment, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

He huffed in frustration, tugging at the tie again. Without thinking, I stepped forward and took it from him. My hands moved deftly, fixing it in seconds before stepping back to my corner.

"Thank you," he said, his tone sincere.

I nodded, unable to muster a proper reply. He smelled incredible—like cedarwood and fresh rain. The elevator doors opened, and I bolted out before the situation could get any more awkward.

Whoever this man was, I had a feeling I hadn't seen the last of him.