Naughty Nice [chapter 3] -

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.

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!

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. Naughty Nice [Chapter 3]

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

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. Elena felt the last of her hesitation dissolve,

"Maybe not," he conceded with a faint, dangerous smirk. "But the villains always have more fun at the after-party."

"You’re being too quiet," Marcus said, his voice dropping an octave. He didn’t look up from the ledger. "It makes me think you’re actually considering the 'Nice' route. We discussed this, El. Nice doesn't pay the lease on this building." Elena looked at the file folder sitting between them

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