Previously on From Tomboy to Temptation:
Mia faced her greatest trial yet as Ryker's uncle subtly tested her strength and composure. Under Ryker's watchful eyes, she survived the storm — but the air between them has grown too charged to ignore. Tonight, something is bound to ignite.
---
The night pressed close against the towering windows of the office building, wrapping Calder Corp in a quiet hum. Most lights were dimmed now — only the soft glow of the top floor remained, where two people lingered long after everyone else had gone.
Mia's fingers tapped against the keys, the rhythm uneven. Her focus scattered with every passing second, her thoughts orbiting one person.
Ryker.
He hadn't left yet. She could sense it. The faint reflection of his silhouette in the glass divider confirmed it — tall, motionless, eyes shadowed by thought. He was watching her again.
She swallowed hard, pretending to type another line on her report. The quiet between them wasn't empty; it pulsed with restrained energy.
Finally, his voice broke the silence — low, steady, but threaded with something unguarded.
"You should have gone home an hour ago."
"I could say the same to you," she replied, trying for lightness.
He moved closer, his footsteps soft against the polished floor. "You're working late because of him, aren't you?"
She hesitated. "Your uncle?"
He gave a short nod. "He's testing how much pressure you can take before you break. It's how he measures loyalty."
Her chest tightened. "And what happens when I pass his test?"
Ryker's gaze flickered. "You'll earn his respect." Then, more quietly, "And make him hate you even more."
Mia's breath caught. "That doesn't sound like winning."
"It isn't," he murmured, stepping beside her desk. "That's why I warned you."
---
For a long moment, neither spoke. The air was warm, their reflections shimmering faintly in the window's glass.
Mia looked up at him, her voice softer than she intended. "Why do you care so much?"
Ryker's jaw tightened. "Because you don't belong in the line of fire."
Her lips parted. "Maybe I can handle it."
He leaned closer, his eyes catching the faint light. "I know you can. That's what scares me."
Something in the way he said it — quiet, restrained, but raw — sent a ripple through her. She stood slowly, her pulse quickening. "You're not supposed to protect me, Ryker."
"I know," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "But I can't seem to stop."
---
The words hung between them — heavy, dangerous, and too honest.
Mia looked away, trying to steady herself. "People are already talking. About you and me."
"I know," he said again. "Let them talk."
"Ryker—"
He cut her off gently. "You've done nothing wrong. And neither have I. But if they see you through my eyes… they'll understand why I can't be indifferent."
Her heart pounded. "And how do you see me?"
He hesitated — the tiniest pause — before saying, "Like someone I shouldn't want. But do."
The silence that followed was molten. Mia could feel the heat rise to her cheeks, the air thick enough to steal her breath.
"Ryker…" she began, but his expression stopped her — that mix of longing and control that made him seem both powerful and human all at once.
"I won't cross the line," he said softly, as if reminding himself. "Not yet."
Her voice trembled. "And if I cross it?"
His lips curved slightly. "Then I'll have to catch you."
---
The elevator dinged in the distance, breaking the spell. A janitor wheeled a cart past the corridor, oblivious to the silent storm brewing inside the office.
Mia sat again, forcing her eyes back to the screen, but her thoughts refused to obey. Every keystroke brought back his voice, every flicker of light from the glass caught the reflection of his broad shoulders pacing behind her.
After a moment, she heard him exhale — a quiet sound that was almost a sigh. "Mia."
She turned.
"Come with me," he said, motioning toward the terrace door at the far end of the floor. "There's something you should see."
---
The terrace was quiet, high above the glittering city. The skyline stretched endlessly — a sea of gold and silver lights. The wind tugged at Mia's hair, carrying the faint scent of rain.
Ryker stood beside her, arms folded, his usual confidence softened by the night. "This view," he said quietly, "reminds me why I do what I do. Power looks beautiful from afar. But up close, it's chaos."
She glanced at him. "And you live in the middle of it."
"Every day." His voice was tired now — not the tone of a CEO, but of a man who'd forgotten what peace felt like.
Mia's heart clenched. "Then why not step away?"
He smiled faintly. "Because some cages are built with gold, Mia. And when you grow up inside one… you forget what freedom looks like."
Her eyes softened. "You don't seem trapped to me."
"That's because you don't see the walls," he said quietly. "You never do until someone shows you a way out."
He turned to her then, his expression unreadable. "You're different. You look at me like I'm not… untouchable."
"Because you're not," she whispered. "You're just human."
Something flickered in his eyes — something dangerous and deeply vulnerable. "Don't make me want you more, Mia."
Her breath caught. "I didn't mean to."
"But you do," he said, stepping closer. "Every time you stand your ground. Every time you fight back. Every time you look at me like you see the man, not the title."
---
The wind howled softly between them, the distance shrinking to almost nothing.
Mia's pulse thundered. "This isn't right," she murmured.
"Probably not," Ryker admitted, voice rough. "But tell me you don't feel it."
She couldn't.
The silence said everything. The air between them burned with unspoken desire, each heartbeat syncing in dangerous rhythm.
He reached out, not touching her — just close enough that the warmth of his hand brushed her arm. "One word, Mia. Tell me to stop, and I will."
Her lips parted, but no sound came.
The wind shifted, and with it, the smallest spark leaped — a tension too strong to hold forever.
Mia finally whispered, "I don't want you to."
---
Ryker froze. Then, slowly, his control slipped just enough for honesty to show. "You have no idea what you're doing to me."
"I think I do," she said, trembling.
For a second, he let his forehead rest against hers, the contact barely there — a fragile connection that sent lightning through her veins. "You make me forget the rules," he murmured.
"And you make me break them," she breathed.
The moment stretched, poised on the edge of something irreversible — until the terrace door opened abruptly.
Ryker's friend stepped out, holding a phone, his eyes widening in mock horror. "Well… this looks like a private meeting."
Mia stepped back instantly, her face flushed crimson. Ryker straightened, expression shuttered once more.
His friend smirked. "Sorry to interrupt, boss. But your uncle just called. He's downstairs. Waiting."
Ryker's eyes darkened, all warmth gone. "Of course he is."
The friend's gaze flicked between them knowingly. "You two might want to… cool off. Before the next test begins."
---
When Mia returned inside, her hands were still shaking. She packed her things in silence, her heart warring between exhilaration and dread.
As she turned to leave, Ryker caught her wrist — gentle, but firm. "He'll use tonight against you," he said quietly. "Don't be alone with him again."
She nodded faintly. "And you?"
He hesitated, then released her hand slowly. "I'll deal with him. Just… trust me."
Their eyes met one last time — the storm between them both fierce and fragile.
As Mia stepped into the elevator, she pressed her back against the wall, breathing hard. The metallic doors reflected her flushed face, her racing pulse, her trembling fingers.
Something had changed tonight. The spark they'd both been avoiding had finally lit — and there would be no going back.
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