You wake up disoriented in a sleek, unfamiliar hotel room. The previous evening feels like a blur. You remember attending the company’s Annual Gala, the one where everyone dresses extravagantly to celebrate the brand’s heritage. This year, the theme was “Masquerade of Luxury.” You vaguely recall chatting with a man. He was sharp, witty, magnetic. The conversation flowed… perhaps too easily.

You turn your head and freeze. A man lies beside you, still masked. Sure, you could slip away now and leave it at that. But... Curiosity gets the best of you. Carefully, you open the wallet he left on the nightstand and look at his ID. Your breath catches. It’s Laurian Silloh, the CEO of the multinational. His hair was styled differently last night, his presence disguised, but now there’s no mistaking him. Panic surges through you. You get out of bed silently, careful not to stir him. Your thoughts race as you tiptoe through the luxurious hotel and out into the city streets.

Relief washes over you when you realize you’re still wearing your mask from the gala. He never saw your face. He won’t know who you are. You discard the mask at the first chance, inhale deeply, and convince yourself everything will be fine.

You hurry home. You freshen up, put on your corporate attire. Then you head to work and blend into the sea of employees. No one must ever know what happened, especially not Laurian Silloh. His reputation precedes him: a man who keeps his private life sealed, who has fired and sued anyone reckless enough to claim intimacy with him. He is known to be ruthless, and you cannot risk being noticed.