he phone when I did

y an unsettling silence as the glass doors of Alexa

my eyes automatically scanned the space. The dirty,

thority, and control. Everything I had ever

eiling windows, offering a stunning

ind, a dark mahogany desk sat in the mid

bookshelves that held a variety of

y polished wood and pric

eek chairs to the lamps, was arranged precisel

xander was in cha

against the afternoon's waning

ck suit that looked effortless

running his fingers through it, and his style spoke o

hroat. He appeared to have quickly ada

e, evidenced by his squared

ething raw drew at me, a vulnerability in

nder'

ice that pierced her mind like a g

ter a brief moment of hesitation

ther her thoughts and avoid feeling like an impostor in t

hung between us as we s

I looked at her with those piercing eyes of mine. The

re," I said softly, deliberate and cautious. "And I

ession, refusing to show any signs of fear or curiosity. Wit

d she said, I narrowed

partner." But not in the manner you think. Eva, this is a business pro

et her gaze, I sensed a change in

een in a way she wasn't sure she wanted. But someth

ice was softer now, but it still had

ns and doubts racin

sting powerful men like me, who were accustomed to achieving their goals

odded; her heart pounding more qui

she said in

elow, suddenly felt like a cage as silence fell between us. As I spoke, Eva's

hair with my fingers tucked

someone. A sho

but it would resolve a family issue-a le

t between us, a whisper, and she blinked

keeping my ey

ge under

We will lead different lives, adhere to various schedules, and refrain from interfering with one another's

sing what I had just suggeste

sense, I could sense that she was feeling the press

at I was offering, she asked, "Why me?" "Wh

r eyes as if carefully consi

eone who only requires what is immediately apparent. Some

back in her chair as if she were attemptin

or something more than what her life had provided, ev

risks and repercussions, could sh

ould stop herself. "I've experienced a lot. I

r words to settle in, and I became so

and how difficult it was to have fa

assure you. No feelings are involved. It is a remedy for both

e like a chain, drawing me into some

had ever desired, and the temptation was genui

he said softly, her voice stea

dull roar in my ears as she walked, the city's stre

nking about it. My offer, marriage, and proposal I had mad

y, financial security, and an es

ind and entering a world where she wasn't consta

man she hardly knew, who only

er's office was oppressiv

t know why I had returned. Was it the safety? The prospect of a fresh start? O

bout it," my voice was hardly audibl

k because of a change in his eyes. Something I wasn't sure

believe you made the right decision, but

lowly. But as the words became clear, the gravi

t the fact that I had said yes. Everything I had ever desir

adow in the do

nett, stood there, observing us bo

ut, I could feel the coldness in the air when her eyes darted toward me. I cou

n my stomach b

re for work but couldn't

n she admitted, and somethi

re than just professio

the sensation of her piercing, cunning eyes on me. My heart rac

too long, and I couldn't get rid of the unea

exander's helper; there w

king into, I glanced betwee

mpression that this was mor

behind the scenes, but I wo

f I was prepared fo