My eyes stared out the window of the private car that was driving us to the hotel. Switzerland was beautiful. All of the old architecture was breathtaking, and the water that ran straight through the city was incredible. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

The car pulled up to the hotel and I immediately got out. I grabbed my things out of the trunk and walked alongside Kenneth as we made our way into the hotel. He was in the penthouse suite, and I made sure every possible amenity had been made available for him. Crystal glasses for his evening alcohol if he took any. A specialized menu reserved specifically for him. The option to indulge in necessary spa luxuries if that was something that interested him. I had no idea how to go about planning an entire week in Switzerland for one of his business trips, so I figured shooting broadly was the best choice.

I, however, was a couple of levels below him. In a hotel suite with a miniature kitchen. I didn’t plan on doing a lot of dining out on the company’s dime. That wasn’t the first impression I wanted to make. So I planned on picking up some groceries in town before trying to get some rest for the evening. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay up for thirty six hours before sleeping, so a quick grocery run would help me walk off some energy before taking a shower and trying to rest.

“You know you could’ve simply stayed in one of the extra bedrooms the penthouse here has,” Kenneth said.

My eyebrows rose to my hairline as I craned my neck up to view him.

“I’m sure that wouldn’t look well on you as the new CEO of a company,” I said.

“It’s more commonplace than you think. Penthouses in hotels are usually sectioned off. You would’ve had your own place behind a closed door.”

“But I’m your secretary.”

He shrugged, like that didn’t mean something to him.

The elevator let me off at my floor and I scurried into the hallway. It was getting a little too hot standing beside my boss in there. I was on a mission. I needed to get more information out of him. Not cozy up to him.

“Tiffany?”

“Yes?” I asked as I turned around.

“Come up when you’re finished settling in. There are a few things I want to go over for the coming days.”

“I’ll be up there in a bit.”

So much for grocery shopping.

I unlocked my door and pushed into the lavish room. My eyes widened and my bag fell from my hand. It was gorgeous. The room I’d booked myself was incredible. A balcony view that overlooked the lights of Zurich and had a wonderful water view of the river that ran through the city. The furniture was plush and the small kitchen still had stainless steel appliances. I found my way into the bedroom and gaped at the four-poster California king-sized bed.

Even the sheets looked expensive.

I really hoped the company didn’t think I was taking advantage of them.

I dropped my things and strode to the bathroom. And even that was too much. A massive walk-in shower as well as a jetted tub awaited me and I groaned. It was beautiful. More than I would’ve ever booked for myself on a trip like this. I splashed some water in my face and closed my eyes, trying to shake the jet flight from my veins.

But I couldn't.

I was painfully aware of how Kenneth had been staring at me. And I hated myself for enjoying it. Kenneth was a very attractive man. In his tailored suits, he looked powerful. Professional. Intelligent. And his stoic blue eyes shook my knees. More than once, I’d imagined what it might’ve felt like to have his thick hands on my hips. I blotted my face off with the softest towel I’d ever felt and sighed into the fabric.

I was on a mission to get information from him. Not fawn over how attractive the man was.

I changed into clothes I hadn’t been wearing for ten hours, then headed for the penthouse suite. And when the elevator door opened directly into his hotel room, I was stunned to my spot. I barely had the energy to step out of the confines of the elevator. There Kenneth was, with his suit jacket tossed over the couch and his suspenders swaying at his thighs, eyeing the beautiful lights of Zurich. They twinkled, framing his body in an aura I couldn't stop staring at.

Then, I caught sight of his muscles.

I watched him bring a crystal glass to his lips as his shoulders flexed. The cascade of movement down his back was clearly seen through the fabric of the shirt he was wearing. Thick pads of muscles that pulsed underneath silken fabrics. His broad shoulders tapered quickly into a thick waist that slid into strong, powerful thighs. His hands dwarfed the glass he was holding, and with each movement he took his ass flexed in ways that drew my eyes straight to it.

“Are you thirsty?” Kenneth asked.

His baritone notes ripped me from my trance and I nodded. Then I felt stupid because he couldn't see me. I cleared my throat and took a few steps into the room, walking down the two stairs the penthouse had in order to walk past the furniture.

“Sure,” I said against my better judgement. “I’ll take one.”

His body turned to face me and I held my breath. The shadows of the darkened suite played off his sharp features. The lights of Zurich twinkled in his deep blue eyes and his dark brown hair glistened with the beauty of the city below us. He set his drink down and moved past me with grace, his shoes clacking against the hardwood floor. I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to settle the slamming of my heart against my chest.

“Here,” he said. “It’ll take the edge off the jet lag.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“Tomorrow we have our first meeting at ten. Then another one straight after that at one. So make sure to eat yourself a decent lunch. We’ll go out for an early dinner after that last meeting.”

“I figured I’d go by the store and get some things to stock my kitchen with,” I said.

“Nonsense. We’ll eat out. There are plenty of places to eat that will provide better food than your miniature kitchen or the room service this hotel has to offer.”

“Are you sure? I could save the company money by-”

“It’s not your job to save the company money,” he said. “It’s not anyone’s job. My job, however, is to make sure this company makes money. We’re going out to eat for dinner after the meeting tomorrow.”

“Okay then,” I said.

“Wednesday only has one meeting, but it’s early. Eight. And it’ll go at least three hours. That’s one of the two big ones, so it’s important you’re alert and ready for anything during that meeting.”

“I can do that.”

“Then Thursday is a day we’re taking to ourselves. No meetings, so it’ll give us time to both prep for Friday and Saturday’s meetings. Then, we jet off late Saturday night to get back in just before sunrise on Sunday.”

“Will we have any time Thursday to explore the city some?”

His eyes panned over to mine and held my gaze.

It robbed me of the breath in my lungs, the way he was looking at me.

“If you want time to explore the city, that can be arranged,” Kenneth said.

“I just promised a friend of mine from the office I’d do a couple of things if I got some time to.”

“Then I’ll make sure you keep your promises. Those are important. But is there a reason why you’re not writing any of this down?”

I felt the blood drain from my face as I took a sip of my drink. Shit. I hadn’t come prepared to take notes.

“I’m so sorry. It must’ve left my mind to bring something.”

“Why would you come up to my suite knowing we would be talking about our coming week without something to write on?” he asked.

“There’s no excuse,” I said. “I’ll make sure to go down and stick something in my purse before I go to bed tonight. That way I won’t be caught without it again.”

“That didn’t answer my question,” he said.

I took another long pull of my drink as my eyes rose to meet his.

“Jet lag, I suppose then,” I said.

“No,” he said as he set his drink down. “I don’t think that’s the reason you forgot.”

“Oh really? Then why do you think I forgot?”

I was curious as to how well he obviously thought he knew me.

His eyes flickered down to my lips and I felt my body instantly heat. Throb with a desire that had been unfulfilled in years. Oh. Uh oh. No, that wasn’t the reason I’d forgotten. I was being rushed. I was tired. I was in a new country for the first time. I was taken aback by how lovely my room was. I needed a decent shower. I wasn’t in my boss’s hotel room for any other reason than the fact that he’d asked me to be here. So we could talk about the week. Discuss work.

I sure as hell wasn’t in his penthouse suite to kiss him.

But he took a step closer to me and I didn’t move. His body heat was warm and I could see the chiseled muscles of his chest tugging against his shirt. His hand slid from his pocket and reached for my hip, settling softly against my body. I couldn't shake his stare. I couldn’t avert my gaze from his beautiful face. His hand slid around to my lower back, pulling me into him as my glass teetered in the palm of my hand.

Then he plucked it from my fingertips, placing it beside his glass on a table while he licked his lips.

“Kenneth,” I said with a whisper.

“Yes, Tiffany?”

But I couldn't say it.

I couldn't tell him to stop.

His eyes fell to my lips again and I watched his face approach. My mind was screaming at me to stop. Yelling that this man was responsible for what happened to my father. I had a point to all this. To keeping a job with a man who had a hand in the death of my own father. And that point information. Getting it, deciphering it, then throwing it in his face. He needed to know his actions had consequences and that he couldn't get away with things like what he did at Instatech. He needed to know that he tore families apart. Broke them in ways they could never recuperate from.

But one phrase hung heavily in the forefront of my mind as his lips approached mine.

Then I’ll make sure you keep your promises. Those are important.

I didn’t expect those words from a man who supposedly didn’t have a moral compass.

His hand on my lower back brought me into his body and our lips pressed together. It was soft. Warm. Disarming, especially with the strength behind his grip. He held me closely to him. Refusing to let go. I felt my body stiffen as my mind continued to claw at me. He was my boss. My boss of forty eight hours, at best. He was at least partially responsible for what happened to my father.

But he was kind on the plane when he asked about my life. Generous with his offering of ideas when it came to brainstorming about my business. When he said he admired my morals and my want to reach out into the community, I believed him. Though the information I’d found on him and Roman’s relationship sent me through the roof, I saw a genuine side of him on the jet ride to Zurich.

And none of that spelled out ‘heartless asshole’.

His tongue slid across my lips. Softly and deftly, with a grave accuracy that sent electricity shooting between my legs. I felt myself giving way. I allowed myself to be bombarded by his tidal waves. My hands slid up his arms, feeling every rippling muscles and every bulging vein. My lips shook against his. I felt his arm wrap around my waist. I gripped onto his shoulders, feeling the last of my body’s fight fall from my body.

And my mind shut off as I relaxed into his sculpted form.