Previously on From Tomboy to Temptation:
Rumors are spreading, and Mia is suddenly at the center of the office's attention. Ryker's protective gaze lingers, their touches and glances charged with unspoken desire — and now, external pressures are about to intensify
The office was quieter than usual that morning, but the tension was palpable. Mia could feel it the second she stepped onto the polished floors. Eyes flicked toward her desk, subtle whispers accompanied her every step. Lila gave her a sympathetic glance as she passed.
"You need to be careful," Lila whispered, leaning in. "The rumors are… louder than you think."
Mia's stomach twisted. "Rumors?"
"About you and Ryker," Lila said softly. "People are noticing. People are talking."
Her pulse quickened. She wanted to brush it off, to focus on work, but the thought of prying eyes, judgmental glances, and whispered speculation made her uneasy. I can't let this get out of control.
---
By mid-morning, the whispers became glances, and the glances became pointed comments. Mia worked furiously at her desk, trying to keep her focus on a client presentation, but the world around her seemed to shrink until only Ryker's office mattered.
From behind the glass walls, his gaze found her again. Calm. Controlled. Unreadable — but it was there. Every subtle tilt of his head, every lingering look, set her pulse racing.
Then the office door opened with authority. In walked Ryker's uncle — a man whose presence alone could shift the atmosphere. The man's cold eyes scanned the floor, lingering on Mia with a weight that made her chest tighten.
"Ryker," the uncle said smoothly, voice dripping with amusement as he approached the glass-walled conference room, "I see you've taken a particular interest in someone new."
Mia's heart skipped. Ryker stiffened slightly, the faintest tightening of his jaw betraying his control.
"Uncle," Ryker said evenly, voice firm but polite, "this is a professional environment."
"Professional?" the uncle said, smirking. "I simply meant that the office seems… excited by your attention lately. And some of us wonder if it's affecting your focus."
Heat surged through Mia — not just embarrassment, but the undeniable thrill of being noticed in such a dangerous way. She wanted to shrink, hide, disappear — but her gaze locked on Ryker. He was unwavering, calm, yet something fierce glimmered behind his eyes.
---
Later that morning, Ryker's friend, a lean man with a mischievous grin, stopped by his office. "You look like you just saw a ghost," he said, dropping casually into the chair across from Ryker.
"Not a ghost," Ryker said tersely. "Family. Interference."
"Ah," the friend said knowingly, smirking. "The jealous type? Always fun when someone tries to mess with your life. Who's the target this time?"
Ryker's eyes darkened. "Mia."
The friend raised a brow. "Ah… dangerous territory. You sure you're ready for the fallout?"
Ryker said nothing, his jaw tight. I don't want anyone touching her. Not in any way that matters.
---
Lunch offered no respite. Mia found herself quietly cornered by a group of coworkers near the cafeteria, whispering as she passed.
"She's… bold," one murmured. "And the CEO notices."
"I've never seen him like this with anyone," another added, eyes flicking toward Ryker's office.
Mia's stomach twisted. She tried to brush it off with a laugh, but her fingers trembled around her coffee cup. This is getting dangerous.
Just then, Ryker appeared at the cafeteria doorway. Jacket off, sleeves rolled, his presence magnetic. He scanned the room, eyes finding Mia instantly. The whispering ceased mid-sentence as his gaze landed on her.
"You should focus on your work," he said quietly, voice low enough that only she could hear.
Her breath caught. "I… I am."
"Not everyone here will let you be," he added, his tone sharp but controlled. "And some people… are dangerous when it comes to distraction."
Mia's pulse quickened. He's warning me… or protecting me?
---
Afternoon brought a department review meeting, and the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Mia sat at her desk, trying to keep her notes straight, while the uncle's eyes lingered nearby. Every comment, every glance, carried a subtle threat — a reminder that her presence, her attention to Ryker, was being observed and judged.
Ryker didn't speak to his uncle directly, but the faint curl of his lips when Mia excelled during the presentation told a story. I see you. And I won't let anyone undermine you.
After the meeting, Ryker's friend caught up with him near the elevator. "You're tense," he observed.
"I'm protecting her," Ryker said tersely. "And my uncle's… meddling. It won't end quietly."
The friend nodded, smirking. "You're tangled in this now, aren't you?"
Ryker's jaw tightened. "More than I realized."
---
By evening, the office had thinned out, rain streaking the windows like liquid silver. Mia stayed behind to finish a presentation, unaware that Ryker had returned. He stepped lightly into her space, watching her work.
"You should go," he said softly, voice low and intimate.
Mia's heart raced. "I… I'm almost done."
"Almost doesn't mean safe," he murmured. His presence closed the gap between them — not touching, but electric.
She straightened, brushing past him. Her shoulder grazed his arm — a touch so subtle it might have been imagined, yet it was enough.
His gaze followed her, dark and intense. "Some things are… better kept private," he said, words barely a whisper.
Her chest tightened. "Private?"
"Yes," he said, eyes locked on hers, "especially when I can't let the world see how close… we really are."
Mia swallowed, heart thundering. The tension, the heat, the forbidden desire — it was all consuming.
---
As the elevator doors slid closed, she caught his reflection in the mirrored walls. Ryker remained behind, a fortress of control, desire, and vulnerability.
Somewhere deep inside, both of them knew the stakes had risen. Office gossip, a jealous uncle, a protective friend, and the undeniable attraction between them — all of it threatened to break every boundary they were trying to maintain.
The whispers in the office were no longer just rumors. They were a challenge — and neither Mia nor Ryker could ignore them.