The next morning, Lily Carter was running late. Again.
Her hair refused to cooperate, her blouse had a mysterious coffee stain before she'd even left the apartment, and her heel had nearly snapped on the subway stairs. By the time she reached the sleek marble lobby of Knight Enterprises, she was a whirlwind of papers, bag straps, and muttered curses.
"Why does time even exist," she groaned, juggling her coffee while trying to shove a folder back into her bag.
"Rough morning?"
The voice was smooth. Amused. Too polished.
Lily froze. Slowly, she looked up.
Sebastian Brooks stood by the reception desk, hands in his pockets, looking like a magazine ad for "charming billionaire next door." His dark hair was perfectly styled, his smile practiced to disarm, his eyes glinting with the kind of confidence that set off every warning bell in Lily's head.
"Oh!" she squeaked, nearly dropping her coffee. "Mr. Brooks. Hi. Um. Hello. Fancy seeing you here."
"Sebastian," he corrected warmly, stepping closer. "And yes, fate has a sense of humor, doesn't it?"
Lily blinked. Fate? This man talked like a rom-com villain.
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"Heading upstairs?" Sebastian asked casually, falling into step beside her as she crossed the lobby.
"Uh, yeah. Work. You know, my actual job."
"Of course," he said smoothly. "Though from what I hear, you're not just any assistant. You've been… shaking things up."
Her brow furrowed. "I—I don't know what you mean."
He tilted his head, studying her with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Lunches, laughter, morale… You've managed to bring life into a place everyone used to call the Ice Palace."
Lily's cheeks warmed. "I just… ordered sandwiches."
"Sometimes it's the smallest things that shift an empire," he murmured, leaning slightly closer. "You should be careful, Miss Carter. Men like Alexander don't tolerate… disruption for long."
The hairs on her arms stood on end. His tone was pleasant, but there was steel beneath it.
"What are you implying?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Sebastian's smile widened. "That Alexander Knight is dangerous to be close to. Ruthless. Unforgiving. He burns through everything—and everyone—in his path. And I'd hate to see you caught in that fire."
Her throat went dry. She wanted to laugh it off, but the weight of his words lingered.
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"Brooks."
The voice was low, sharp, cutting across the lobby like a blade.
Lily nearly jumped out of her skin.
Alexander Knight was striding toward them, every inch of him radiating authority. His expression was carved from ice, his gaze locked on Sebastian with lethal precision.
"Knight," Sebastian greeted, as if nothing were amiss. "We were just chatting."
Alex's eyes flicked to Lily, lingering for half a second before returning to Sebastian. "Stay away from my employees."
"Protective, aren't we?" Sebastian said lightly. "Or is it… possessive?"
Alex's jaw tightened. "Possessive of my company. My time. And my people. Don't mistake it for anything else."
Lily's heart pounded. The air between them felt electric, charged with a history she didn't understand.
Sebastian chuckled softly. "Of course. Wouldn't dream of overstepping." He turned to Lily, his smile lingering. "It was a pleasure, Miss Carter. I hope you take my advice to heart."
And then he was gone, leaving behind the faint scent of expensive cologne and unease.
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Lily turned to Alex, words tumbling out in panic. "I didn't—he just started talking to me—I didn't mean—"
"Don't explain," Alex said coldly, his eyes still fixed on where Sebastian had disappeared. "Just remember. He doesn't do anything without reason."
"But—"
"Stay away from him."
The finality in his tone left no room for argument. He turned sharply and walked toward the elevators, expecting her to follow.
Lily stood frozen for a moment, clutching her coffee like a lifeline. Her stomach churned.
What had just happened?
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That night, long after the building had emptied, Alex sat in his office, the city lights spilling across his desk. He should have been reviewing contracts, but his mind drifted elsewhere.
To the past.
The debate hall.
He could still see it vividly—the wood-paneled room, the hum of anticipation, the rows of students watching. He'd been ready, notes in hand, arguments prepared to perfection.
But then Elijah Williams had taken the podium.
Confident. Charismatic. Passionate. He spoke with fire, defending Katherine's point as though it were his own, his words flowing effortlessly.
And Katherine—
She had been in the front row, her dark hair falling into her face, her eyes alight with admiration. She had laughed softly at something Elijah said, her smile radiant.
Alex had felt it then. A sharp, unwelcome pang in his chest. Jealousy.
He had shoved it down, hidden it beneath precision and silence. But the memory lingered, etched into him like a scar.
And now, years later, with Sebastian circling like a vulture, the same unease coiled in his chest.
History had a way of repeating itself.
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Back in her apartment, Lily replayed the encounter over and over. Sebastian's words echoed in her head: Alex is dangerous to be close to.
She hugged her pillow, whispering, "Dangerous? Please. He's just… scary. And maybe a little ruthless. And okay, fine, maybe ridiculously attractive. But dangerous? That's dramatic."
Still, she couldn't shake the chill in Sebastian's tone.
Meanwhile, in his penthouse, Alex poured himself a drink and stared out at the city. His jaw was tight, his reflection cold.
Sebastian Brooks was making his move.
And Alexander Knight knew one thing with certainty—
This was only the beginning.