The moment my boyfriend kissed another woman in the middle of Atlanta's busiest airport, I kissed a complete stranger to save my pride
. Less than twenty-four hours later, I walked into work and discovered the man I had kissed was the ruthless mafia boss who had just taken control of my company.
My name is Ava Brooks, and until that afternoon, I believed my life was finally heading in the right direction.
I had left the office two hours early, pretending to be overwhelmed with work so Mitchell Carter would never suspect I planned to surprise him at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. He thought I was staying late.
Instead, I stood near the arrivals gate wearing the yellow dress he once said made me look like sunshine, holding a handmade welcome-home sign in one hand and a bouquet of white roses in the other.
Three years together.
Three birthdays.
Three Christmases.
Three years of believing I knew the man I loved.
Then the doors opened.
Mitchell walked into the terminal pulling his suitcase behind him, and my heart immediately found him in the crowd. I smiled and took one step forward.
Then he turned away from me.
A stunning blonde woman in a tight red dress opened her arms before he reached her. Mitchell wrapped both hands around her waist and kissed her with the confidence of a man who had done it a hundred times before.
Not a mistake.
Not an accident.
A kiss that belonged to someone he loved.
My body froze.
The bouquet slipped lower in my hand, but somehow I was still smiling while my entire world collapsed around me.
A few seconds later, Mitchell opened his eyes.
He saw me.
Every bit of color disappeared from his face.
“Ava!”
I barely heard him.
The woman turned toward me with irritation instead of guilt, as though I had interrupted something that rightfully belonged to her.
At that moment, I made myself one promise.
I would not cry in front of hundreds of strangers.
I would not give Mitchell the satisfaction of watching me break.
So I looked around the terminal until my eyes landed on a tall man walking toward the exit.
He wore a charcoal overcoat over an impeccably tailored black suit. His dark hair was neatly styled, and the quiet confidence in his stride made everyone around him instinctively move aside.
I had no idea who he was.
I only knew he was walking straight toward me.
Before fear could stop me, I threw the roses into the nearest trash can and walked directly to him.
“Finally,” I said loudly enough for Mitchell to hear. “I've been waiting for you.”
The stranger stopped.
Without giving myself time to think, I wrapped my arms around him.
His body became perfectly still.
He smelled of cedar, rain, and expensive cologne. Every muscle beneath his coat felt controlled, disciplined, and dangerously powerful.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered against his ear. “Please pretend you know me for ten seconds.”
When I pulled back, our eyes met.
Dark.
Calm.
Completely unreadable.
Mitchell was already hurrying toward us.
“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded.
Before I could answer, the stranger slid one arm around my waist with effortless confidence.
His voice remained low and composed.
“My fiancée doesn't owe you an explanation.”
I stared at him in shock.
Fiancée?
Mitchell looked ready to explode.
“You don't even know her!”
The stranger finally turned to face him.
“You're right,” he replied. “But I know enough to recognize a man who throws away something valuable.”
The entire terminal seemed to go silent.
Men dressed in black suits suddenly appeared from every direction, surrounding us with practiced precision.
Only then did I notice the earpieces.
The concealed weapons.
The way airport security nodded respectfully instead of interfering.
Mitchell's confidence disappeared.
One of the suited men leaned toward the stranger.
“Boss,” he said quietly, “the convoy is ready.”
Boss?
My heart skipped.
The stranger looked down at me with the faintest hint of amusement.
“My name is Daniel Han.”
He paused just long enough for the name to sink in.
“I own Han Holdings.”
Then his expression turned cold enough to freeze the entire terminal.
“And every business now under my family's protection.”
The next morning, I walked into the office expecting another ordinary Monday.
Every employee was already standing.
The executive team looked terrified.
At the head of the boardroom table sat Daniel.
The same man I had kissed less than twenty-four hours earlier.
Except now, everyone addressed him by the title that made even veteran executives lower their eyes.
“Good morning, Mr. Han.”
One of the directors cleared his throat before making the announcement.
“As of this morning, Han Media has officially been acquired by the Han Organization.”
The room fell silent.
Then someone whispered the words that made my blood run cold.
“The new owner... is also the man who runs the Han family.”
Daniel slowly lifted his eyes to meet mine.
A faint smile touched his lips.
May you like
“Miss Brooks,” he said. “I believe we should discuss the kiss you owe me an explanation for.”
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