The moment Selene stepped out of the Averion gala, the night air hit her like a relief she didn't want to admit needing. Her heels clicked lightly against the stone steps, echoing in the quiet space between the building and the waiting cars.
She had barely taken three steps when a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Leaving so early?"
Selene turned and saw Mira approaching. Tonight, Mira Varyncliff looked softer than usual, her expression curious instead of sharp.
"You disappeared," Mira said. "Ryan noticed."
"I don't need him noticing anything about me," Selene replied.
Mira smiled knowingly. "He stared at the stairs for five entire minutes as if waiting for you to come back down."
Selene's chest tightened. "That's… unnecessary."
"Maybe," Mira shrugged, "but that's him."
Before Selene could answer, a sleek black car rolled to the curb. The window lowered, and Ryan's cold, unreadable stare met hers.
"Get in," he said.
Selene blinked. "Excuse me?"
"There are photographers waiting at the back entrance," Ryan said. "If you walk out alone, they'll follow. I'll drop you home."
"I didn't ask for a ride."
"You don't have to ask," he replied calmly. "Just get in."
Mira gave her a small nudge. "Trust me, he won't leave until you do."
Selene exhaled and walked toward the car, telling herself this wasn't giving in. This was practicality. Nothing else.
She slid into the back seat. Ryan sat beside her, leaving a polite distance but not enough to erase the awareness between them.
For a moment neither spoke.
The silence felt too loud.
Finally, Selene said, "You didn't have to send your security to my building."
Ryan's gaze stayed forward. "Yes, I did."
"It wasn't necessary."
"It was," he said. "Your family doesn't protect you the way they should."
Selene froze. "And you think you should?"
"No," Ryan replied. "But I will anyway."
Her heart beat faster. She hated that.
"Why?" she asked quietly.
He turned his head slightly, enough for his eyes to meet hers. "Because you're careless with yourself."
"That's not true," Selene said sharply.
"It is," Ryan countered. "You walk into trouble with your chin held high, as if pride will shield you."
Selene clenched her jaw. "So now you know everything about me?"
"No," he said, eyes still on hers. "I'm just noticing the parts you like to pretend don't exist."
Her breath caught. She looked away.
Ryan didn't push further. He just leaned back, quiet again, as if the brief moment of honesty had been enough.
When they reached the Caelisborne Tower, Selene opened the door to step out, but Ryan's voice stopped her.
"Selene."
She paused.
His tone softened just slightly. "Don't avoid me at the fellowship tomorrow."
"I wasn't planning to," she lied.
"You were," Ryan said. "But don't."
Selene held the door, torn between annoyance and something dangerously close to anticipation.
"Why?" she whispered.
Ryan's gaze lowered, then lifted—slow, deliberate. "Because I'm not done talking to you."
Her pulse jumped.She stepped out of the car without another word.
The door closed behind her. She walked toward the steps, breathing carefully, willing her heartbeat to slow.
But she could still feel his gaze on her back until she disappeared into the lobby.
Upstairs, Amira was waiting with wide eyes.
"You're home," Amira said in relief. "I was worried."
Selene tried for a calm tone. "You shouldn't worry about me."
"But I do," Amira said. "Especially when your father is harsh. And… when Ryan Varyncliff shows up."
Selene paused mid-step. "Why him?"
Amira bit her lip. "He's… intimidating."
"He intimidates everyone," Selene said, brushing it off.
Amira hesitated again. "Except you."
Selene stopped walking.
That wasn't true.
He did intimidate her sometimes—just not in the way Amira thought.
"Go to sleep," Selene said gently. "It's late."
Amira nodded and turned toward her room, though she glanced back at Hanzen—who stood discreetly at the elevator, watching the corridor. Their eyes met for a second, and she quickly looked away.
Selene noticed.
Another problem for another day.
Inside her room, Selene slipped off her heels and sat on the edge of her bed. The city lights shimmered beyond the windows, but her thoughts were everywhere.
Ryan's voice.
His stare.
The way he said her name.
She shouldn't think about him.
She shouldn't want to understand him.
She shouldn't feel anything when he looked at her.
She lay back on the mattress, covering her eyes with her forearm.
This was bad.
She was the Caelisborne heiress.
He was the Varyncliff heir.
Two worlds built to collide, not connect.
She took a slow breath.
Tomorrow would be the first day of working directly with him.
She already knew one thing with absolute certainty.
It wouldn't be easy.
And it wouldn't be safe.
Not for her heart.
Not for his.
Not for anyone.