Previously on From Tomboy to Temptation: Mia survives the storm of office gossip while Ryker's protective gaze never wavers. His jealous uncle lurks in the shadows, his friend offers insight — and the tension between Mia and Ryker is now almost unbearable.
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The morning light was sharp against the glass of the office towers, casting long lines across Mia's desk. She could feel it immediately: the atmosphere had shifted. The usual quiet buzz of keyboards and soft conversation was replaced by something heavier, more calculated.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Ryker's uncle lingering near the coffee station, his gaze sliding toward her in measured, predatory arcs. Every move he made was deliberate, as if he were mapping her reactions — testing her.
Mia's chest tightened. I have to be careful.
She straightened her back and forced her fingers to remain steady over her keyboard, reminding herself: confidence is armor.
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Ryker, seated in his glass-walled office, observed quietly. His jaw was tight, a subtle crease forming between his brows. He didn't speak to his uncle — that game had its own rules — but his eyes never left Mia. Every glance she gave the uncle, every subtle reaction, was cataloged and protected silently.
Later, when Mia approached the copy room, the uncle was there, as if expecting her. His smile was smooth, but there was an edge beneath it that made her stomach flutter nervously.
"Good morning, Mia," he said, voice silk and steel combined. "I hope you're finding your footing here… under pressure."
"I… yes," she replied, forcing calm. "Everything's fine."
"Good," he said, stepping closer. "Because in environments like this, a misstep is never forgotten. And attention… especially unwanted attention… can be dangerous."
Mia swallowed. "I'll be careful."
"See that you are," he murmured, then turned, leaving her with a shiver and an inexplicable thrill.
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Across the office, Ryker's friend appeared in the doorway of his office, smirking as always. "You look like a storm just hit," he said.
Ryker didn't respond immediately, eyes dark as they followed Mia's retreating figure.
"She's being tested," Ryker said finally. "By him. And by the office."
"Ah," his friend said knowingly, leaning back against the frame. "The perfect storm. And you? You planning to shield her… or let her fight?"
"I don't decide that," Ryker said, voice low. "She decides. But I will intervene if the line is crossed."
His friend raised a brow. "Careful. That line is thinner than you think."
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By lunchtime, Mia had managed to deflect questions, dodge whispers, and survive a near encounter with the uncle near the cafeteria. Her coffee cup shook slightly in her hand as she settled at a small corner table, grateful for a moment of peace.
"You're handling yourself well," a voice murmured beside her.
Mia looked up. Ryker, leaning casually against the wall, eyes dark and unreadable. "I… I'm trying," she said softly.
"Trying is good," he said, stepping closer. "But there are… things you can't control here. People like my uncle… they enjoy the test."
Her pulse quickened. "Then why…?"
"Because it matters to me," he said simply, voice low and intimate. "Not them. You."
Mia's fingers trembled as she reached for her cup. "Ryker…"
"Shh," he murmured, eyes locked on hers. "Not here."
Even at a distance, the intensity between them was electric, each word charged with unspoken meaning.
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The afternoon brought a meeting with multiple departments, orchestrated by Ryker's uncle. He watched her like a hawk, subtly undermining her suggestions, questioning her every move. Mia had to be sharp, deliberate, and careful, but her mind kept returning to Ryker — to the warmth of his gaze, the tension in his presence.
At one point, as she presented an idea, the uncle interjected sharply. "Are you certain that approach is practical, Ms. Mia? Or are you… distracted?"
Mia felt her face flush, but she squared her shoulders. "I'm certain. And I welcome feedback from anyone in the room, sir."
Ryker's eyes met hers across the table. That faint, subtle curl of his lips: I see you. And I'm proud.
The uncle's smile faltered slightly. A quiet victory, but one she felt like it could shatter with a single misstep.
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Later, Ryker found her near the elevator. "You handled him well," he said, voice low.
"I… I just… tried to stay calm," Mia replied, cheeks warm.
"Calm is good," he said. "But never forget — it's okay to let someone protect you too."
"I… I want to do this myself," she murmured.
He tilted his head, studying her. "And I respect that. But don't mistake respect for absence. I'll be here, Mia… whether you notice or not."
The words sent shivers down her spine, and for a fleeting second, she imagined what it would feel like to lean into him, to let him be closer… but the office, the uncle, the gossip… the rules… pulled her back.
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Evening descended, soft light spilling through the towering windows. The office was nearly empty, and Mia stayed behind to finish a report. She felt a sudden presence behind her.
"Still here?" Ryker asked, voice a whisper that could have been mistaken for the hum of the air conditioning.
"I… I have to finish this," she replied, trying not to let her voice betray her racing heart.
"You should go," he said softly, stepping closer. "It's not safe… not alone."
Her hands froze on the keyboard. "I can manage," she whispered.
"You could," he said, moving slightly closer so that the faint brush of his sleeve was almost felt, "but some things… some people… are too dangerous when the night falls."
Mia's breath caught. The air between them felt charged, heavy with tension, desire, and the unspoken promises of a connection that neither dared explore openly.
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As she packed her bag, Ryker's friend appeared at the doorway. "Planning to let him keep all the attention?" he asked slyly.
Mia's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Ryker," he said, leaning casually against the frame. "He's not subtle. He's… protective. And he doesn't like challenges… especially from his own family."
Mia's heart skipped. "So… what now?"
"Now," the friend said, smirking, "you survive. And he… decides when to intervene."
Mia swallowed, feeling the weight of every glance, every whispered comment, every touch that had yet to happen. She was caught in a storm — one she couldn't control — and Ryker was both the eye and the lightning strike.
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As she walked to the elevator, she caught a final glance from Ryker — strong, protective, almost painfully intimate. The uncle's test had begun, the office was watching, and yet… in that gaze, Mia felt the promise of something beyond rules, gossip, or danger.
The tension between them had never been sharper. Every whispered word, every subtle glance, every unspoken thought had them both on the edge. And somehow, in the chaos, they were tethered together, drawn by forces neither could resist.
The game had begun. And neither of them knew who would make the first move.
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