A One Night Stand With My Boss ( Maia Sanchez )

The next morning, after breakfast, they hit the road. Craig was driving smoothly while the family chatted casually.

It was the day before New Year's Eve, and the highways were packed with cars, causing major traffic jams and slowing everyone down to a crawl.

Camila eventually woke up, squinting her sleepy eyes and glancing outside to see that night had fallen. A light drizzle made everything outside pitch dark. They were stuck on the highway, not moving an inch. She checked her phone-it was already seven in the evening. They'd been on the road for a solid ten hours.

"Craig, are you tired? Want me to take over for a bit?" Camila offered.

Craig glanced at the rearview mirror, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm good. Traffic's always a mess before New Year's, and today's weather isn't helping."

Just then, Cole handed over a bag with boiled eggs and sweet potatoes. "Claire, Cami, you hungry? Have a snack to hold you over till we're home. I'll whip up some hot spaghetti when we get there."

"Thanks, Cole." Camila took the bag, peeling an egg for Claire, who was feeling a bit carsick and couldn't eat.

"Maybe some fresh air will help. Bundle up, everyone; I'll crack the window," Craig suggested.

Camila wrapped a coat around Claire and put on her own, making sure everyone was warm before Craig rolled down the window. The cold air rushed in, and Camila shivered, huddling into her coat. Her phone buzzed with a message from Connor. Opening it, she saw a picture of a lavish dinner with a text: "Cami, dinner time. Look at this spread!"

Camila smirked, quickly snapping a picture of the boiled egg and sweet potato to send back. "I'm stuck munching on these, still caught in traffic. "

Connor replied, "Send me your location."

Without a second thought, Camila shared her location and teased, "What, planning to air-drop some gourmet food?"

"I wish, but that's not gonna happen."

Camila pouted. "Ugh, you're feasting at home, and I'm out here in the cold."

"Next year, we'll celebrate New Year's in our own place, no more traveling." "Nice plan."

"I'm just getting started; don't rain on my parade."

Their lively chat brightened Camila's mood, which had been gloomy due to the traffic jam.

Suddenly, a blinding beam of light swept across the lanes, shattering the calm of the night. The light was especially harsh in the rainy darkness, causing a spike of anxiety.

As the beam moved past their

Porsche, a figure in a black raincoat

approached briskly. His rain hat

obscured his face, revealing only his eyes, which glinted eerily in the night.

Craig furrowed his brow, a sense of unease washing over him. He quickly rolled up the window and locked the doors, his eyes fixed warily on the figure outside. "Can I help you?" he asked.

Camila also sensed the tension. Her relaxed mood vanished, and she clutched Claire's hand tightly, her eyes reflecting a hint of fear.

The figure in black didn't leave even

as the window closed. Instead, he continued knocking, asking in a deep, somewhat muffled voice, "Is Mr. Craig there?" His voice, though blurred by the rainy night, was clear inside the car.