single, chilling line at her "You're mine to manage." Alexis couldn't stop replaying it in her

n't like the others. He wasn't just a businessman. He was a force, a presenc

ge in his tone. Sebastian Steele was dangerous not just in business, but emotionally too. He could break her, and she was terrified and fascinated by the very idea. That Friday, Alexis worked late again, going over figures for the corporate pitch t

eir eyes met across the room, and the long pauses when he spoke to her one-on-one. She could feel h

a few late-night workers. Alexis stood, stretching her stiff shoulders, and began packing her thi

n the doorway, wa

same cold authority that never seemed to waver. His ey

k the fluttering nerves in her stomach.

room. His presence seemed to fill the entire space, making the air thicker, heavier. "You're wor

hought. Sebastian Steele didn't concern himself with people. "I'm fine," she replied

ver leaving hers. "You don't have to do ever

was saying them, why it felt like he was speaking to her in a

itant, "You can't push yourself beyond your li

o ice in his voice, no cold distance. Instead, there was something raw, something almost

her she meant it for him, for herself, or for both of them. Sebastian looked at her f

chest. It was like something unspoken had shifted in the room, something electric, something dangerou

st, Alexis," he said, the commanding tone returning. "Tomorrow is another day, and you'll need to be at your best." Alexis nodded,

appened? Sebastian Steele-cold, calculated, untouchable-had shown a side of himself that no one else had ever seen. And for the

to focus on her work, but every time she closed her eyes, she found herself thinking of him of that moment when his voice softened, of

lone, as usual. His assistant was trailing behind him, and the room filled with the usual hustle

His gaze locked with hers, and for the first time, she saw something there something different from the usual cold di

y, her heart racing ag

found herself sitting at her desk when Sebastian entered her off

though his gaze was just as intense as always. "You're

r breath catching at his un

he said quietly, stepping clos

felt something shift within her, like a barrier breaking.

my best," she replied

ost imperceptible smile. "Your best is enough

quickly masked it with a ne