Mistaking The Company's Crown Prince for A Male Model

I was still a little excited about my first ride in a luxury sports car.

"Come on, Zian." He turned to look at me, his eyes scanning my face.

I touched my cheek self-consciously. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Nothing," he replied. "Where to?"

Oh, right. The act was over. Technically, I could let him off the hook now, but considering how much I'd spent... well, I couldn’t let that money go to waste. His voice alone was worth another round. Maybe a song?

I gave him a hotel address, planning to book a short stay. However, he frowned at my choice. "I don't stay in places like that."

"Then where do you stay?"

The moment the elevator doors opened at his chosen location, I felt like a small-town girl stepping into a whole new world. The top-floor suite. A luxurious river view.

After my initial awe, panic set in. "How much does this cost?"

"Nothing," he said nonchalantly.

"What do you mean 'nothing'? Does your family own the place?"

He just raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

Excitement, anger and heartbreak all hit me at once. This man was clearly out of my league. Hiring him had drained my entire year-end bonus—brief pleasure at the cost of financial ruin.

The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became. Without warning, I pushed him down onto the plush sofa, straddling his legs. My hands landed naturally on his broad shoulders. The dim lighting in the restaurant earlier didn’t do him justice. Up close, he was even more breathtaking. He was testing every bit of my self-control.

He blinked in surprise at my sudden move, opening his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Shhh... Don't talk. Don't test me."

I leaned in, my lips brushing against his.

His whole body stiffened and I could feel his heartbeat quicken. He tried to push me away gently, but I nibbled at his lips and whispered, "You don’t like it? Too bad. I paid for this."

Whoever pays is the boss. With that, I kissed him again.

This time, he responded. One arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, while his other hand tangled in my hair, deepening the kiss. He was definitely new to this—his movements were hesitant, awkward even. At one point, he bumped against my teeth and I let out a small gasp.

That seemed to flip a switch in him. Heat flooded the room and I felt the intensity of his kisses rise, leaving my head spinning. Just when things were getting... interesting, my phone rang.

I pushed against his chest, breathless. "Phone."

Clearly annoyed, Zian reached over, grabbed my phone and handed it to me. The moment I took it, the screen went dark—the call had ended. Before I could react, Zian pulled me back in, kissing my earlobe. I shivered. The sensation was electric. Despite his composed exterior, his reddened ears betrayed him.

***

The next morning, when I finally woke up, I grabbed my phone and froze. 99+ messages from my best friend. My stomach churned as I clicked. Among all the messages, one stood out.

[The new guy was too nervous and ran away last night.]

My eyes widened. If the model ran away last night... then... who was I hugging and kissing?!