It was on the man she could no longer ignore. Sebastian Steele. The air between them had shifted over the past few weeks. At first, it had been purely professional, his commanding tone, hi

re trying to understand something about her, something that neither of them was willing to acknowledge.Her tho

need that r

n Steele was never one to make requests; everything wa

the whirlwind in her mind. She couldn't explain why his words held such weight over her. Maybe it was the expectation in his voic

ajar, and she knocked

erful CEO he was. But today, there was something different in his posture, some

rt on his desk, trying

rder," she said, her voice even, but internally, she w

cking with hers. For a moment, she saw it-a flash of

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, his eyes not leaving

o hard on this report. She knew it was

ing to keep her voice steady. "I'll m

fixed on her. There was a lingering silence b

scrutiny no, this was different. He wasn't looking at her like an employee. He was looking

s voice was softer than usual, though i

is, Alexis. Better

im compliment anyone epecially not her. She swallowed

d, unable to keep the s

aybe he did. Either way, his e

to himself. "But you're holding back. You co

lso left a strange kind of warmth in their wake. He saw something in h

mposed. "I'm not holding back, Mr. Steele," s

her answer. But before she could leave, h

"Don't work yourself to the point of exhaustion. I know you wa

him sound anything but demanding. It was almost like he was caring? No. That

r voice steady, even though her mind w

rn around and ask him what he meant. But she didn't. She couldn't. She had

days. She had stayed late again-burning the midnight oil to get everything just right for the upcoming pitch. But

ffice. His tall frame filled the doorway, and once again, his presence had the same

ce steady, though she was acutely aware of how

e room, walking toward her with that purposeful stride

feel the tension between them. It was electric, undeniable,

scanning the documents on her desk.She nodded, unsure where this was go

No, it's not just that. You're more dri

d to hear something like that from him, and yet here he was, a

all the man who demanded perfection, who had no patience for

naged, though it was more of a r

n usual. He opened his mouth to speak, but just as he did, his phone

is," he said, his voice retu

otions well up inside her. What had just happened? Why did it feel like

her phone. A quick glance revealed a message fro

on dinner. It was

what it meant. Was it just her imagination? Or was he