Vanessa felt like she was walking on air.

She had a great job, she lived in a wonderful city, had her best friend nearby … and, she was in love for the first time in her life.

She found herself parking farther away so she could walk longer and enjoy the beautiful morning. The sun was signing, the birds were chirping, and if you listened really hard, you could hear waves crashing in the distance.

She loved Miami.

When she’d gotten the text from Enrique the night before, inviting her to his place for dinner that night, everything had fallen into place. This was real … It wasn’t just a fling. She was finally creating a good balance between her work life and her personal life, and it was working. She really could have it all.

That realization had taken the final bits of doubt out of her mind, and she’d allowed herself to admit her true feelings for Enrique. It wasn’t just about sex, or the fact that he was hotter than sin, but he listened to her … he believed in her … and he was the most sweet, thoughtful, honest guy she’d ever known.

Vanessa decided that once he was tied to the bed with the scarves she’d tucked giddily into her bag, she’d tell him. She was nervous, but she believed that he felt the same, and she was ready to take a risk by saying it first.

She bent down outside her building to push her nose into a large open rose, and inhaled deeply. When she righted herself she laughed out loud, thinking what a cliché she was.

I’m as corny as a Disney princess, she thought, then shrugged, okay with her sappy, love-struck state of mind.

“Good morning,” she called happily to her fellow employees as she practically floated down the aisles. She had intended to come in a little later, since she’d worked late the last few nights, but she’d found herself wide awake with her creative juices flowing, so she’d decided to come straight in instead.

Vanessa turned toward Derek’s office instead of her own, intending to let him know she was in. The door was cracked an inch, and when she heard voices, she turned to leave since he was obviously busy.

I’ll just touch base with him later, she thought, then paused when she heard Enrique’s voice.

“Here’s everything I gathered,” he was saying, his voice low. “I was able to dig around in his records, and found some info online, but the best source of information are these transcriptions from the tapped phone. He’s been taking money steadily over the past few years, but got greedy and started taking larger sums, which is what tipped you off.”

“Years?” Derek asked, his voice full of disbelieve. “David’s been with me from the beginning … I just don’t understand … Why would he do this?”

Vanessa leaned in closer, confusion swimming through her, and she strained to hear what was said next.

“Are you sure he was working alone?” Derek inquired.

“Yes. I ran checks on all of the other employees, and everyone else turned up clean. David’s the source.”

Unable to comprehend what she was hearing, or what it meant, Vanessa pushed the door opened and entered Derek’s office, not caring that she was interrupting a private meeting. She needed answers.

Both men turned toward the door. Derek looked annoyed at the interruption, but Enrique’s face turned to shock.

“What’s going on?” she asked the room, but stalked over to stand in front of Enrique, because that’s who her question was really directed at.

“Mi Cielo…” he began, but she held her hand up to stop him.

“Don’t,” she said, then turned and began pacing the room. “So you aren’t really an intern. That was a lie … You’re some sort of undercover cop working for Mr. Fine, and you’re here investigating all of us.” Vanessa stopped pacing and stood before him once again, pain flashing across her face. “Were you investigating me? Is that what this was all about?”

“NO! Mi Cielo…” At her sharp look he amended, “Vanessa. That was not it at all. I swear … I didn’t know who you were when we met, and when I found out, I was relieved because I’d already cleared you.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe that?” she asked, bringing her hands to her hips and thrusting out a hip.

“What’s going on here?” Derek butt in, reminding her that they were having it out in her boss’s office. The boss who wouldn’t look too kindly on an executive diddling an intern.

Well, she guessed it didn’t matter now. Enrique had never really been an intern anyway.

“I’m sorry, Derek,” she said, jutting out her chin to show a confidence that she wasn’t feeling. “I was having a relationship with Enrique, even though I thought he was an intern here and knew you wouldn’t like it. We kept it a secret from everyone, but I knew it was wrong.”

Derek ran a hand over his face and sighed.

“It’s a moot point, but we don’t have a policy against inter-office dating, and Enrique wasn’t your subordinate, so I wish you hadn’t felt the need to keep it a secret. I just ask, in the future, for your honesty.”

“Funny,” Vanessa said sarcastically, “that’s all I ask for as well.”

With that parting shot aimed at both of them, Vanessa stormed out. When she reached the hall she began running, and even though she heard Enrique calling after her, she didn’t pause until she reached her car.