Naughty Nice [chapter 3] Page

Marcus finally looked up. His eyes, usually bright with a curated, boy-next-door charm, were dark and sharp. This was the version of him the board members never saw—the 'Naughty' hidden beneath the bespoke wool suit.

The "Nice" Elena would have walked away. But Chapter 3 belonged to someone else entirely.

Elena felt the last of her hesitation dissolve, replaced by a cold, sharp adrenaline. She pulled the folder toward her and clicked her own pen. Naughty Nice [Chapter 3]

Elena looked at the file folder sitting between them. It was labeled Project Kringle —a name so wholesome it made her stomach turn. Inside were the routing numbers that shouldn't exist and the signatures she had forged with a shaking hand just three hours ago.

If you’re looking for something more romance-heavy or perhaps a darker thriller angle, let me know and I can adjust the tone and setting for you! Marcus finally looked up

Marcus reached out, his hand covering hers. His grip was firm, grounding, and entirely too comfortable.

She thought about her reputation—the "Nice" girl who volunteered at the animal shelter and never missed a Sunday dinner with her mother. Then she looked at Marcus, the man who had shown her just how easy it was to break the rules when no one was watching. The "Nice" Elena would have walked away

"The choice was made the moment we signed that first contract," he reminded her. He leaned across the table, the scent of expensive cologne and cold winter air rolling off him. "Don't get cold feet just because the lights are prettier this time of year. We’re deep enough that the only way out is through."