Chapter 2 THE MAN IN MY DREAMS

Emily

The world slowly came back into focus, as though I were surfacing from deep water. The ringing in my ears faded first, followed by the feeling of strong hands supporting my shoulders. I was leaning against someone's chest, his breathing steady as he helped me sit upright.

“Are you okay?”

The voice was close and calm. I blinked several times until the blurred figure in front of me became clear. A man was kneeling beside me, dressed in a dark suit that looked perfectly tailored. He looked polished and composed, completely out of place beside the small crowd gathering around us.

He helped me to my feet, keeping one hand at my elbow when my legs nearly gave way again.

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath.

“Careful,” he murmured, keeping a hand at my elbow. “I've got you.”

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath.

I looked past him toward the road and saw the car that had almost hit me. It had stopped at the edge of the curb, its front bumper slightly bent from the impact. There was no major damage, but the sight of it still made my stomach twist.

The man helped me across the street and waited until I was safely away from the road before letting go of my arm.

I finally found my voice, “I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking. I know that was stupid. I missed my train, and I'm already late, and it's my first day, and I can't be late on my first day. I need this job, and now I've probably caused an accident, and I…”

I stopped myself when I realized I was blabbering.Heat rushed to my face.

The stranger's lips curved upward, a warm smile spreading across his face, “Take a breath.”

I obeyed, drawing in a shaky breath before letting it out.

“I'm sorry.” I said again.

“You don't have to keep apologizing.” His smile softened, “I understand. First days can be stressful. Are you hurt?”

I shook my head.

“No. I don't think so.”

My eyes went back to the car.

“Is everyone okay?”

He glanced over his shoulder at it before looking back at me.

“The bumper took most of it. Everyone is okay. Nobody was hurt, and the accident wasn't even big enough to deploy the airbags. It's nothing serious. Just a small visit to the mechanic, and the car will be good as new.”

Relief came first, but guilt followed quickly behind it.

“Oh my God. Do you need my information?”

He looked at me, slightly surprised.

“I mean it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention.” I reached for my phone. “Give me your number. When you take the car to the mechanic, tell me how much it costs. I'll pay for the repairs.”

I knew even as I said it that I probably couldn't afford to repair a luxury car. Still, it was my fault, and I couldn't simply walk away from it.

“I just hope we can sort this out without…”

“Don't worry about it,” he said gently. “The company will take care of it.”

I stared at him.

“Really?”

He nodded.

I looked back at the car, then at him, and finally let out the breath I'd been holding.

“Thank God.”

My shoulders finally relaxed.

“To be honest, I don't even know how I would have paid for it,” I admitted. “I know it's not badly damaged, but that car probably costs more than my….” I stopped myself, realizing that I was blabbering again. “Sorry, I don’t always blabber like this.”

A small smile touched his lips, “Just be more careful next time. Things could have ended very differently if the driver hadn't stopped in time.”

I nodded, still embarrassed by what had happened.

“Where are you headed?”

“Davenport Corporation.” I straightened my blouse, trying to regain some dignity. “I start today.” I blushed, realizing too late that I had already told him that.

A nervous laugh escaped me.

The man's expression softened with amusement.

“Davenport Corporation?”

“Yes.”

He extended his hand.

“Micah Voss. I also work for Davenport. I'm the CEO's personal assistant.”

I stared at his hand for a second before taking it.

“Emily Calder. New administrative assistant.”

“Nice to meet you, Emily.”

I released his hand and glanced toward the black sedan again. Then something occurred to me.

“Wait. Is your boss in there?”

Micah nodded.

My stomach dropped. I looked back at the slightly bent bumper, then at the sedan.

“Did I just cause an accident with my soon-to-be boss?”

The panic returned all at once.

“Oh my God. This is not how I imagined my first day. I'm already late, and now I've caused an accident with the CEO. I'm definitely going to be fired.”

“Emily.”

I stopped.

“It's fine.”

“But is he okay?” I asked quickly. “Are you sure?”

Micah gave me a reassuring look.

“He's fine. Like I said, nobody was hurt.”

I let out another breath, some of the tension leaving my body.

Micah glanced toward the sedan.

“My boss and I are heading to the office. If you'd like, we can give you a ride. There's enough space in the car.”

I hesitated. Getting into the car with my boss whose vehicle I had almost caused an accident with was probably the worst idea I could make on my first day.

“I don't want to get you in trouble,” I said carefully. “Especially after what just happened. If your boss is particular about his car or his space…”

Micah's mouth curved into an amused smile.

“Let me worry about that.”

He turned toward the sedan.

I was about to follow when the rear door opened.

A man stepped out. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a charcoal suit that fit him perfectly. His dark hair fell slightly across his forehead, giving him a controlled but effortless appearance.

Then he lifted his head, and my breath caught as iron-gray eyes met mine. For a moment, everything around me seemed to fade, I knew those eyes. I had seen them in my dreams countless times. They belonged to the man who had stood before me while I was bound and helpless, the man whose voice had condemned me to death.

The man from my nightmares was standing right in front of me.

My back suddenly burned. A sharp, searing pain tore across the exact place where my dragon-shaped birthmark lay hidden beneath my blouse. I gasped and pressed a hand against it, but the pain only grew hotter.

The man stared at me.

His lips moved, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. The street seemed to tilt beneath my feet, and his iron-gray eyes were the last thing I saw before everything went dark, just like in my nightmares.