coworkers bustled around, oblivious, while she tapped her pen against her desk in a restless rhythm. She had always been good at ke

d's words echo

me, Aira. I don'

e had no intention of being one of his conquests. But instead of laughing, she felt unsett

zzed on her

hen she saw

h. Today. 1:00. My dr

dn't asked. He had told he

refusal twice before deleting it. Then she thought of her job, her boss, the deal with Blackwood AgroTech

urned. Her coworkers whispered, curious. Aira clenched her jaw, slipping into the car

levator, she spotted him-impeccable in a tailored suit, standing with the kind of authority that made the world bend a

ted, eyes glinting wit

choice, did I?" she rep

"There's always a c

sfaction of a reaction. "Let's make this clear, Mr

ck-just enough to send heat up her spine. "And yet," he said as

. "Then maybe I s

se and unyielding. "You're here because you want to be,

ated how easily he unset

at the gala. You don't fit in with masks and pretenses. You're real.

he truth she couldn't reveal. Panic clawed at

t date clients. And I don't get involved with billionaires

iet ease. He didn't touch her, but his presence

" he said, his voice low, almost vu

ainful thud. She hated that a p

s innocent smile. If Jason got too close, if he

r voice. "Then stop trying.

els clicking against the roo

ng with a mixture of frustration and determina

rring him, her resistanc

od wasn't a m

mocking her unrest. She told herself she was strong enough to keep her boundaries. She had survived worse, endured heart

rmth of his gaze, the intensity of his voice. She hugged

t let h

illness of her living room, but

build her walls higher, Jas