Alexander caught the curiosity and hint of unease in Aliyah's expression.
He nodded toward the couch beside him. "Sit."
She hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat on the soft leather.
He walked over to her and slowly knelt down.
Without saying anything, he reached for her shoes and gently slipped them off.
Her skin was warm against his cold hands, and for a moment, his fingers stayed longer than necessary.
By the time he stood up, a tension had already built inside him, thick and undeniable.
His suit pants were uncomfortably tight.
He shifted, adjusting, hoping she wouldn't notice the effect she had on him with something as simple as a touch.
He cleared his throat and spoke. "I didn't bring you here to make you uncomfortable." His eyes briefly met hers before looking away. "I just needed a moment. Away from… everything."
He felt the discomfort again and realized that adjusting didn't help. He sighed. "I should get you something to drink…" Taking a few steps, he turned back to her. "Is coffee okay?"
She nodded, and the simple movement sent a shiver down his spine.
He stepped into the kitchen, trying to settle the tension within him.
His mind returned to how her presence had affected him, so easily, so quickly. He loosened his tie, trying to shake off the pull she seemed to have on him.
Why does she make me feel like this? What is it about her…? he wondered.
Some moments later, he returned with her coffee in hand. He found Aliyah standing quietly in front of a painting—his favorite piece. Eliza had gifted it to him two years ago.
Her eyes were fixed, so deep, like she was connecting with the art.
He set the mug down gently on the table beside her. "It was a gift from my sister," he said.
Aliyah didn't turn. "It's beautiful," she murmured.
"It looks like something breaking… and healing at the same time," she added softly.
Alexander stepped closer, surprised by how deeply her words sank. His eyes shifted from the painting to her. "She said it reminded her of me. The chaos… and the peace breaking through."
Aliyah moved away from him.
It seemed like she felt something she wasn't supposed to. She reached for the mug and kept her distance from him.
He noticed the shift and scoffed. "Seems like I'm crossing a line?"
Her voice came low, but clear. "Why did you bring me here?"
Alexander took a moment before he answered. "I don't know," he admitted. "You just seemed like the right person in that moment."
Aliyah's expression was mixed with rage and confusion. "The right person to control, you mean? Someone soft and easy to command?"
Her voice cracked as she stepped further away. "I'm tired of being a puppet in someone else's play. Because why am I even here? I don't belong here. I don't fit into the world you live in."
She turned halfway, eyes wide. Alexander stood still, his gaze steady on her.
"Then let me teach you." his voice was steady and serious. "Not to follow. Not to fit in. But to take up space in your way."
Aliyah blinked. "You think it's that easy? You know nothing about how life is for me," her voice was sharp. "Nothing about what it's like to live in my world!"
"But I think you're doing it now," he replied, stepping forward. "Even now, saying what you feel. That's not weakness, Aliyah. That's strength."
He continued. "And that day… on the rooftop, I shouldn't have said those things. You weren't weak. You were hurting."
He heard her breath quicken.
"What…?" she almost whispered. "That was you?"
Alexander gave a small nod.
"You told me to fucking jump!" she yelled, voice high-pitched and raw. "Made me feel pathetic…"
A tear dropped as she blinked.
"I was angry," he admitted, pain flashing in his eyes. "But not at you. At myself. I saw too much of myself in you at that moment. I thought… if I pushed you hard enough, maybe you'd step back. And you did."
She shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You don't get to twist that into something noble. You're no different from the people who pushed me to the edge."
The weight of her words hit Alexander like a blow. His chest tightened, his mouth dry. "I know," he whispered. "And I regret it even more than you can understand."
She was staring at him, her eyes full of pain and disbelief. He couldn't find the right words—and for a moment, he just stood there.
Before he could stop himself, he took a step closer, his heart pounding.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
Then, without thinking, he held her face gently, pulling her closer.
Their breaths mixed as he brushed his lips against hers, gently at first, as if asking a question.
When she didn't pull away, he deepened the kiss, more urgent now, driven by a burn neither of them could deny.
Her body was stiff for a moment before she gave in, her hands moving to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
It was everything they had been avoiding—the tension, the unspoken attraction.
When they finally pulled away, both were breathless, their chests rising and falling in gasps. Neither of them said a word.
The silence between them was filled with the weight of what had happened.
They didn't spend any more time in the penthouse.
The drive back to Étoile was quiet. Uncomfortable. Both of them focused on the road ahead, as if looking at each other might somehow break the fragile barrier between them.
As Alexander parked the car in the lot, he glanced at Aliyah, whose eyes were still looking forward.
Before he could move to open her door, Aliyah stepped out with full purpose.
Stepping out himself, Alexander's gaze followed her, only to be met with an unexpected sight.
Imogen, standing near the building's entrance, her arms crossed, eyes locked on the two of them.