Chapter 6
Alison
Five years. Five years since I'd last set foot in this city. Five years of building a new life in Frankfurt, rising through the ranks at Nexus Global, and raising my son alone. Five years of pushing Lucas Hawkins to the furthest corners of my mind.
And now, here I was, back again.
I adjusted my Hermès scarf—a recent splurge to celebrate my promotion to Vice President—and checked my reflection in the hotel mirror.
At twenty-seven, I barely recognized the polished woman staring back at me.
Designer suit, subtle makeup, hair styled in an elegant updo.
Gone was the uncertain young analyst in off-the-rack blazers.
Success had transformed me, hardened me.
My phone chirped with a text from the babysitter: Leo finished his lunch and is napping now. All good!
A smile softened my features. Leo. My brilliant, beautiful four-year-old son who had amber eyes just like his father, eyes I looked into every day but had managed to separate from their source in my mind.
I texted back a quick thanks before gathering my portfolio for the Preston Energy bidding event.
Victor had entrusted me with representing Nexus Global, a show of confidence that still surprised me sometimes.
We were competing directly against Hawkins Enterprises for acquisition rights to Preston's European distribution network—which meant, inevitably, crossing paths with Lucas.
The thought sent a shiver of apprehension down my spine. I'd known this day would come eventually when I accepted the promotion and transfer back to the U.S to be at the heart of business. Still, I'd hoped for more time to prepare, to fortify my defenses.
"Ms. Miller?" The hotel concierge's voice came through the phone. "Your car is waiting."
"Thank you. I'll be right down."
I took one last steadying breath, straightened my shoulders, and stepped into the hallway. Whatever happened today, I was no longer the vulnerable young woman Lucas had discarded. I was Alison Miller, VP at Nexus Global, mother to Leo, answerable to no one but myself.
The Preston Energy event was being held at the Waldorf, the ballroom transformed into a sophisticated arena where corporate predators circled their prey. Preston's aging CEO, Robert Preston, was retiring and selling off company assets piece by piece to the highest bidders.
I spotted Victor immediately, commanding attention in a corner of the room.
In the five years I'd worked for him, I'd come to respect his business acumen, if not always his methods.
He'd been true to his word—giving me training, opportunities, and support, especially after Leo's birth.
If his interest in my career sometimes seemed motivated by something beyond professional development, I chose to ignore it.
"Alison." Victor greeted me with air kisses beside each cheek, European-style. "Perfect timing. The Prestons just arrived."
I nodded, scanning the room discreetly. "And Hawkins Financial?"
A knowing smile played at Victor's lips. "Eager to see your former employer?"
"Eager to know the competition," I corrected smoothly.
"Lucas is here, of course. With the infamous Victoria Black on his arm. They're near the bar."
"Five years and he still hasn't closed the deal," Victor murmured, following my gaze. "The engagement's dragged on so long it's become something of a joke in certain circles." Victor's smile turned predatory. "Victoria pushes for a date; Lucas finds excuses. Interesting, isn't it?"
Before I could respond, Robert Preston approached, ending our conversation. The next hour passed in a blur of handshakes and preliminary discussions. Victor stepped back, allowing me to lead the presentation of our bid—a show of confidence that didn't go unnoticed by the other executives present.
As I outlined Nexus Global's proposal, I felt a familiar gaze boring into me. I didn't need to look up to know Lucas was watching me, his amber eyes narrowed in assessment. Let him look. Let him see exactly what he'd discarded five years ago.
After the formal presentations, the event shifted to a more social atmosphere. I was discussing implementation timelines with Preston's CFO when a familiar voice cut through the conversation.
"Mr. Adler, I see you've met Ms. Miller."
I turned slowly, as if my body already knew before my mind could fully grasp it—and there he was.
Lucas Hawkins, standing before me for the first time in five years.
The air left my lungs in a stuttering breath, caught somewhere between shock and the sudden, overwhelming force of memory crashing over me.
Being this close to him again felt like stepping into a room I had sealed shut long ago—a room filled with echoes I'd tried desperately to silence.
But the moment our eyes met, the lock broke open, and all I had buried came flooding back with a vengeance.
And at the center of it all was that night and the way our bodies had come together in a heat that felt almost sacred, the kind of intimacy that carves itself into your bones.
I had spent years trying to forget the feel of his hands on my skin, the sound of his breath mingling with mine, the wild, consuming rhythm we had fallen into.
But it was useless now. One glance, one breath between us, and it all came roaring back.
Five years might as well have been five minutes.
Time had done nothing to dull the pull he had over me.
My body remembered him with terrifying clarity, answering to his presence before my mind could object.
My skin prickled, my pulse quickened, and a low, dangerous heat unfurled in my belly, a proof that no matter how far I'd come, some parts of me still belonged to him.
Up close, I could see subtle changes—a few strands of silver at his temples, fine lines at the corners of his eyes that only enhanced his devastating good looks.
"Mr. Hawkins," I acknowledged coolly.
"Ms. Miller." His eyes swept over me, taking in every detail of my transformation. "It's been a while."
He was watching me so intently, his eyes drinking me in so fiercely that, even with the clothes I had, I felt exposed to him.
Does he know the effect he has on me? Does he know that it didn't matter how much I convinced myself to hate him, I just couldn't bring myself to do it, and his very presence was threatening the walls I had built around myself over the last couple of years?
"Yes, it's been," I replied, pleased that my voice remained steady.
"You've done well for yourself at Nexus."
"I have." The simple confirmation held no apology, no gratitude for his observation.
Mr. Adler, sensing the tension, excused himself, leaving us on an island of charged silence amid the bustling event.
"So, Frankfurt, was it?" Lucas asked, his tone deceptively casual.
I raised an eyebrow. "You've been keeping tabs on me?"
"I make it a point to know where top talent lands." He sipped his whiskey. "Even talent I... underestimated."
It was as close to an admission of error as I'd ever get from Lucas Hawkins. But it was five years too late to matter.
"Victor was wise to recognize what you missed," I said, the slight barb impossible to resist.
Lucas's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Victor often recognizes opportunities I discard. It's his specialty."
The implication that I was merely something discarded, something Victor had picked up second hand, stung despite my armor.
"If you'll excuse me," I said, preparing to step away. "I should return to my boss."
Lucas's hand caught my wrist, the contact sending an unwelcome jolt of electricity up my arm. "Be careful with Victor. He isn't what he poses to be."
I pulled my arm free, unsettled by his touch and his words. "My professional relationships are no concern of yours, Mr. Hawkins."
"Lucas." The sharp voice belonged to Victoria, who materialized at his side like a vengeful spirit. Her eyes flicked dismissively over me before returning to Lucas. "Darling, the Prestons are asking for you."
Her gaze returned to me, recognition dawning with malicious pleasure. "Well, well. Alison Miller. I heard Victor had pulled you from whatever backwater European office you were hiding in."
I met her gaze steadily. "Victoria. Still sporting that engagement ring, I see. What is it now, five years? How... patient of you."
Her perfectly composed expression faltered for an instant before she recovered. "Some relationships are worth waiting for. But I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand the complexities of our world."
"Victoria." Lucas's voice held a warning edge. "Ms. Miller is representing Nexus Global. Professional courtesy is expected."
Victoria's smile turned brittle. "Of course, darling. I was merely making conversation." She turned to the podium, where arrangements for the evening's dinner were being announced. "Oh look, they're assigning tables. We should find our seats."
As she pulled Lucas away, he glanced back at me, an unreadable expression in those amber eyes. "Until next time, Ms. Miller."
I watched them go, Victoria's possessive hand on Lucas's arm, her diamond catching the light with every movement. Five years had changed nothing and everything. Lucas still affected me, but now I knew better than to let it show.
The dinner portion of the event was torturous. From my table, I had a clear view of Lucas and Victoria, seated with the Prestons at the head table. Victor, beside me, seemed to find my discomfort amusing.
"He can't take his eyes off you," he murmured as dessert was served. "Our dear Lucas seems quite distracted by your return."
"He's surprised, nothing more," I dismissed. "I'm sure he never expected to see me again, let alone as his direct competition."
Victor chuckled. "Perhaps. Or perhaps he's finally realizing what he lost."
I took a sip of water, avoiding the wine that had been flowing freely all evening. "Nothing was lost because nothing existed to begin with. We had a working relationship that ended poorly, that's all."
"Is that what you tell yourself?" Victor's voice dropped to a near whisper. "We both know there was more between you. I saw it five years ago, and I see it now."
As I looked beyond Victor and across the room to find Lucas's eyes on me. Their intense glare left me feeling bare, and I quickly looked away. Those eyes, they seem to see right through me, as though he could see my every secret.
Does he know about my son?
The thought tightened like a vice around my chest. If he knew I was in Frankfurt, it wouldn't take much for him to find out about Leo, too. Would he ask? Would he look at me and see the truth?
He had no reason to suspect that. None at all.
But still… the fear wouldn't leave me.