CHAPTER 25 — THE MAN WHO STOOD TOO CLOSE
Eva woke up with a pulse that still hummed from last night's dinner. Derek had walked her to her apartment door, touched her lower back with a slow, claiming stroke, and whispered, "Sleep. You'll need your strength."
She hadn't slept much after that.
But today wasn't about Derek. At least… it wasn't supposed to be.
Today was about the major pitch her team had been preparing for weeks—one of the biggest accounts the company might land this year. Eva's role was critical, and she walked into the conference floor feeling focused, polished, and determined.
Until she saw him.
Jordan Hale.
Handsome, arrogant, competitive Jordan Hale—Derek's business rival. The one Derek's inner circle watched with caution. The one people whispered about.
He stood by the glass wall, talking to Eva's boss, and when his eyes slid to her, a smirk pulled at his lips.
Something in Eva's stomach tightened.
Why is he here?
Why today?
Before she could process it, her boss waved her over.
"Eva, good. Mr. Hale is considering a cross-collaboration with the clients you've been preparing for. I told him you were one of my best."
Jordan's gaze sharpened.
"Miss Sterling," he said, voice dripping with interest. "I've heard… things."
Eva forced a polite smile. "Professional things, I hope."
"Oh, I like how you think." His smirk deepened. "We'll see."
Her boss excused himself. Jordan didn't move. Instead, he stepped closer—too close—and lowered his voice.
"You work with Derek Blackwell… don't you?"
Eva felt her spine stiffen.
"I work for my company, Mr. Hale."
He chuckled. "Right. Of course. And yet—Derek has a habit of claiming what catches his attention."
Eva swallowed. "If you'll excuse me, I need to prepare for the meeting."
She walked away. She could feel his eyes on her back.
The Meeting Turns Into A Storm
An hour later, the conference room buzzed with tension. Eva presented flawlessly. Her data was sharp, her insights clean, her confidence unshaken.
Until Jordan challenged her numbers—on purpose.
He leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen, eyes fixed on her.
"Are you sure your analytics team didn't make any… convenient errors?" he asked.
Eva squared her shoulders. "I stand by my work."
"And yet," he drawled, "one small mistake could cost this entire proposal."
The clients shifted uncomfortably.
He was sabotaging her.
Her chest tightened, frustration burning.
Jordan smiled faintly—enjoying it.
And then the conference room door opened.
Derek walked in.
No warning.
No announcement.
Just six feet of cold, contained fury in an expensive suit.
The room went silent.
His eyes went straight to Jordan… then to Eva.
"Continue," Derek said calmly. But there was nothing calm underneath his voice.
Eva tried. She finished the presentation, but Derek's presence wrapped around her like a shield—and a warning.
When the meeting closed, the clients looked impressed again. They shook her hand warmly. But the tension between Jordan and Derek turned the air into glass.
Derek Steps In
After the clients left, Eva gathered her documents—but Jordan stepped directly into her path.
"Well done, Miss Sterling," he said, low. "I wasn't finished with our conversation earlier."
Before she could respond, Derek's hand closed lightly but possessively around her waist.
"She's busy," Derek said.
Jordan's smile was slow and provocative.
"Ah. So it's true."
"What's true?" Eva asked.
"That Derek Blackwell doesn't let anyone or anything he touches move freely."
Her breath caught.
Derek's jaw tightened. "Watch your words."
Jordan leaned closer—not to Derek but to her. Close enough that Derek's grip on her waist tightened.
"You deserve to know, Eva," Jordan murmured, his gaze piercing. "Derek's secret arrangements affect everything. Including you."
Derek moved.
It wasn't dramatic.
Not violent.
Just a step—slow, controlled, lethal.
"Walk away," Derek said.
Jordan smirked. "See you around, darling."
Then he left.
Eva felt her breath shaking out of her chest as Derek guided her out of the room.
In The Elevator
The moment the elevator doors closed, silence swelled.
Derek stood beside her, shoulders rigid, jaw hard enough to crack. He wasn't touching her anymore—but his presence filled the small space until she felt wrapped in him.
She finally spoke.
"What was that?"
"Jordan is a problem," Derek said.
"No," Eva said softly. "What was that between you two?"
Derek turned toward her slowly—too slowly.
"It was me protecting what's mine."
Her heart jumped.
"I'm not—"
"You are," he whispered, stepping closer. "Even if you don't know it yet."
Heat rolled through her body, but she forced herself to hold his gaze.
"He made a mess of my presentation on purpose."
"I know."
"And you came in like—"
"Like someone who won't tolerate him targeting you," Derek finished. "Not professionally. Not personally."
Her breath stuttered.
"Derek, I can fight my own battles."
"And I love watching you do it." His voice dipped lower. "But I won't let him hurt you while he's trying to get to me."
Her pulse hammered.
"Why would he try to get to you through me?"
A long moment passed.
His eyes darkened.
"Because he thinks you matter to me."
"Do I?" she whispered before she could stop herself.
Derek stepped forward.
She stepped back.
He stepped again.
Her back hit the elevator wall.
He braced one hand beside her head, eyes burning into hers, voice a low rumble.
"Eva. You matter to me more than I intended. More than I wanted. And definitely more than Jordan Hale will ever understand."
Her breath hitched.
Heat washed through her, head to toe.
But then—
The elevator dinged.
The doors slid open.
And standing outside was… his ex-lover.
Tall. Stunning. Smirking.
"Well," she purred, eyes flicking between them. "Isn't this interesting."
Eva's stomach dropped.
Derek's eyes closed briefly.
Jordan Hale was one problem.
But this woman—
This woman looked like a war.