Chapter 2
Laith Al-Sintra, Royal Prince of Lativa, found this slip of a woman utterly fascinating.
She had crystal-blue eyes, soft brown hair, and high cheekbones that caught the light just so.
But it was the small, dark freckle right on the edge of her lower lip that kept pulling his gaze.
That spot—innocuous yet maddening—drew his attention again and again to her mouth.
Her lips were a work of art. Soft and naturally pink, fuller at the center, shaped into a subtle, perpetual pout without the aid of lipstick.
It should have been illegal to look that tempting.
Laith wasn’t a fool, but even he wouldn’t dare admit—not even to his twin brother, Rafi—that the spark of fury in Andi McCormick’s blue eyes was. ..arousing.
Infuriatingly arousing.
He wondered, not for the first time, what it would feel like to kiss her—and how that fire in her eyes might change beneath his touch.
Unfortunately, Andrea McCormick was an employee.
The idea of kissing a staff member was completely inappropriate.
It was wrong on every level—ethically, professionally—and Laith prided himself on being better than that.
He straightened his shoulders, reigning in his wayward thoughts both mentally and physically.
And yet...despite his best intentions, his mind refused to behave.
She was breathtaking, yes—but it was more than that.
There was a spark to her, a fierce vitality that drew him in.
Most women in his world carefully curated their charm to please him.
Andi, by contrast, wore no mask. She didn’t attempt to flatter or defer. She was—bluntly, refreshingly—herself.
Laith acknowledged a certain predator’s instinct within him—not in a malicious way, but in his taste for challenge, for the thrill of pursuit. He didn’t crave acquiescence. He craved a woman who would fight him, push him, make him earn every surrender.
And Andi McCormick? She was beauty, challenge, and something more—something rare.
Plus, she was smart. Critically smart.
And right now, he needed that intellect.
He and Rafi, his twin brother, had let Sunstar drift while tending to other urgent matters.
Three years ago, the company had been a thriving, promising subsidiary when they’d acquired it.
Now, under a leadership team that lacked urgency or vision, Sunstar had faltered.
Employees had grown lax. Sales figures had plummeted.
If they didn’t reverse the decline—and soon—they’d be forced to consider layoffs, a possibility neither he nor Rafi wanted to face.
Laith’s gaze sharpened, locking onto Andi with a new intensity. His posture shifted subtly, directing all of his focus onto her.
"You've never been tasked with defending the monthly numbers before," he said, voice low and even. "What prompted you to take on that responsibility today?"
He caught the flicker of impatience in her body language—the slight tightening of her shoulders, the arch of her brow. Her tone, when she spoke, practically dripped with “ Isn’t it obvious?” energy.
Laith fought back a grin. She had no idea who he was—and oddly, that made her even more irresistible.
"I have my suspicions, Andi," he said, leaning forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. His voice dropped a shade lower, coaxing, challenging. "But I'm asking you."
His dark eyes narrowed slightly, a gleam of humor sparking beneath the intensity.
"Why was Harold mentally absent during today’s meeting?"