"A new hire, huh?" Alessio De Luca’s baritone voice came through the phone.

"I'm on my way to the interview room."

_Click._

The phone slipped into the pocket of his charcoal suit as his footsteps echoed down the hallway — a corridor too silent for such a bright morning. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, reflecting off the marble floor that seemed too pristine to be stepped on carelessly.

Just before opening the door, Alessio paused. He adjusted his suit and tie, making sure every fold and crease was perfect. A CEO should never appear careless — especially not in front of someone new.

He stepped inside.

Across the room, a young woman sat with her head bowed, as if hiding a whole world beneath her lashes. Alessio’s face remained unreadable, his jaw tight, eyes sharp.

_Stiff girl,_ he thought with subtle disdain. _Not the type to last long in a place like this._

But his lips delivered a polite line in a calm, professional tone:

"Welcome to our team."

He sat, crossing one leg over the other, observing the girl with a faint, creeping curiosity.

"I’m Alessio. CEO here."

And the moment their eyes met—

The world cracked.

It was her. The girl who once filled his thoughts when he was sixteen. The one whose face he memorized better than any math problem. The girl he had fallen in love with—and for the first time, burned with desire for. The same girl who made him... relieve that desire alone in his room, whispering her name under his breath.

But the memory wasn’t sweet.

He remembered how her gaze turned cold. How she pulled away... accused him... even played a role in getting him expelled from school. That wound never fully healed. And yet, the feeling... hadn’t fully died.

---

8 PM – Milan, Italy, Hotel Sant'Elena

The day had drained him—physically and emotionally. Alessio unbuttoned the top of his shirt and sat at the edge of the bed.

That night, like many others, he surrendered to escape.

A one-night stand. A secret known only to a few — and one trusted soul: his long-time friend, Marco.

Marco always knew Alessio’s taste. Classy women. Quiet. Clean. Far from trouble.

After a shower, Alessio wrapped himself in a thin hotel sheet and waited. In silence, in restlessness. When the door knocked and the bed dipped under another's weight, Alessio took a deep breath.

The scent... too sweet for a prostitute, he thought faintly.

Curiosity stirred, he pulled back the sheet and looked at the figure now sitting on his bed.

Thump.

His heart nearly leapt from his chest. The world must be joking. Was this a trap? Could it really be her job now...?

But his thoughts were quickly smothered by an old, wounded ego. The ego of a boy who was once mocked, crushed, and discarded.

If I back down now, she’ll think I’m a coward. Just like before.

His mind rang with echoes of old taunts — You’re probably terrible in bed. That alone was enough to reignite the fire of his pride.

Without hesitation, Alessio flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.

"Hai messo piede nella tana della tigre... e la tigre non aspetta per mangiare..." (You’ve stepped into the tiger’s den... and the tiger doesn’t wait to eat...)