(Ethan's POV)
The office was quiet, too quiet.
I'd been watching her all morning,
Lila. She moved through the space with effortless control, her dark waves pinned in a low knot, blazer sharp, posture perfect. Every inch of her screamed discipline and restraint. And yet… there were cracks. Small ones, moments when the weight of her world threatened to show.
I couldn't let anyone get close to her. Not the rivals, not the unknown threats sending those ominous messages, and certainly not anyone naive enough to underestimate her.
She was too good for that.
I cleared my throat and stepped closer. She looked up briefly, eyes sharp, calculating.
She sat across the table, sunlight catching in her hair, eyes scanning a textbook she clearly wasn't reading. I tried to focus on my own work, scribbling notes I would probably forget the moment I looked away, but it was impossible. Every so often, she'd glance up at me, those hazel eyes locking onto mine for just a second longer than necessary.
My heart thumped in my chest like it wanted out. I told myself to stay calm. She was my rival—smart, rich, untouchable,and yet, sitting there, it was like none of that mattered. I could only see her.
"Ethan," she said suddenly, voice low, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I looked up, caught off guard. She was leaning forward slightly, elbows on the table, eyes sharper than usual. "Yes?" I tried to sound casual, but my voice cracked just enough to betray me.
"You didn't answer my question." She tilted her head, teasing, though there was something behind her gaze that I couldn't place.
"What question?" I asked, pretending not to remember, though I did. She'd asked about the upcoming debate, but all I could think about was the curve of her lips and how close she was sitting.
"You know exactly which one."
I swallowed. My hand brushed against hers as I reached for a pen, and it felt like fire shot through my veins. She didn't pull away. She never did. And suddenly, I wanted more than just a glance. I wanted… I wanted her.
I leaned in slightly, and so did she. Time slowed. The smell of her perfume, faint and sweet, filled the space between us. My heartbeat raced, every nerve screaming to close the distance. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, nothing else existed,the textbooks, the competition between us, the world outside the office,they all disappeared.
I could feel her breath against mine. Her lips were inches from mine. My mind screamed, Just… do it.
And then she moved. Not a lot, but enough. She shifted her gaze downward, and the spell broke.
"Lila," I said softly.
She looked up. One brow arched. "Yes?"
I swallowed. My throat was suddenly dry. "I… need you to be careful."
She blinked. Then tilted her head. "I am always careful."
"Not enough," I muttered. The words slipped before I could stop them.
Her gaze held mine longer than expected. That faint flush across her cheeks… it was subtle, but it existed. She knew I had noticed.
And I knew I wasn't going to stop noticing.
Later, walking her to the elevator, I could feel the tension coiling between us like a live wire.
I wanted to speak. I wanted to say something, anything that would bridge the gap between the professional walls and the dangerous, thrilling tension I was feeling.
But before I could, her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
She glanced at it, face pale for a heartbeat, then shoved it into her bag.
And I realized someone was already threatening her.
And I would do everything to make sure they didn't get the chance.