The morning sun spilled gently through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Lawrence mansion, casting soft light across the polished floors and perfectly arranged furniture. Yet, despite the serenity of the space, Mia felt a heaviness in her chest she could neither name nor ignore.
She moved quietly through the study, arranging papers on Aiden's desk as she had done countless times before. But today, every glance at him stirred something unfamiliar something she hadn't allowed herself to feel.
Aiden was focused, as always, reviewing company files on his tablet, his brow furrowed slightly. The subtle curve of his jaw, the way his fingers tapped rhythmically on the screen, the quiet strength in his posture… Mia's heart betrayed her.
She shook her head, scolding herself. No. Stop it. You can't…
But the more she tried to resist, the harder it became. Every small smile he gave her, every word of encouragement, every gentle correction… it lingered in her thoughts long after he had left the room.
It wasn't just admiration anymore. It was something deeper an affection that made her pulse quicken and her hands tremble. She hated that she couldn't control it, hated that she was giving herself away without even realizing it.
Mia looked down at the stack of files in her hands, gripping them tightly to steady herself. The truth was undeniable: she was drawn to Aiden. His calm authority, his quiet intensity, the protective way he carried himself it had broken down the walls she had carefully built around her heart.
But with that realization came unease. She had seen the way Dallas had looked at her, the way he lingered near her, the subtle provocations that made her uncomfortable. And then there was Mila watching, scheming, already jealous of what she didn't yet fully understand.
Mia let out a shaky breath. I can't let this happen. Not now. I have to stay… professional. I have to protect him… and myself.
Yet the more she resolved to stay distant, the more she noticed Aiden's quiet presence. His eyes, sharp and perceptive, seemed to catch every nuance, every unspoken word. She couldn't tell if he knew how she felt or if he was simply being his usual controlled, inscrutable self.
She glanced at the chair across from him, her mind wandering to the way he had watched Dallas earlier, the way he had said nothing, yet said everything with a single glare. The thought made her pulse quicken again.
Mia knew she was standing on dangerous ground. Her growing affection for Aiden made her vulnerable not just to the schemes swirling around them, but to her own heart. And in the quiet of the study, she wondered: could she remain composed when every beat of her heart seemed to betray her?
The quiet ticking of the clock sounded louder now, marking not just the passage of time, but the slow, inexorable pull of emotions she could no longer ignore.
Mia swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus on her duties, though her mind was anything but still. She had no idea how long she could keep her feelings in check, or how much longer she could protect herself from the dangerous games unfolding around her.
And somewhere, deep inside, she feared that once her heart fully acknowledged the truth, nothing would ever be the same again.