Olivia stared at the documents spread across the conference table, her pen poised above her notebook but unmoving. Her mind wasn't on the merger, not really. It was on the man sitting across from her—Ethan Pierce.
She glanced up, watching as he scrolled through something on his phone, his brow furrowed in concentration. She should've been thinking about the contract revisions, but instead, her thoughts drifted back to his confession. I care about you, Olivia. More than I should, perhaps. The words played on repeat in her mind, blurring the line between what was real and what was a part of their ruse.
Her gaze flickered to the crimson scarf she wore, a constant reminder of the moment Ethan had made her question everything. The gifts, the attentiveness, the softness in his eyes—it was no longer something she could brush off as part of their carefully orchestrated plan. She didn't know how to compartmentalize it anymore.
"Olivia?" Ethan's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
Her head snapped up, realizing he'd been speaking. "Sorry, what was that?"
Ethan gave her a patient smile. "I was asking if you had any final thoughts on the brand messaging. We're going to have to lock it in soon, especially with the press conference around the corner."
Right. The brand. The merger. Business. "Yeah, I do," she replied, trying to refocus. "I think we should emphasize the merging of two legacies. Carter Couture's innovation and Pierce Enterprises' tradition of quality."
Ethan nodded thoughtfully, but his eyes didn't leave hers. "That sounds perfect. Bold, but grounded." There was a brief pause, then he added quietly, "Just like you."
Olivia swallowed hard, feeling the familiar flutter in her chest. There it was again—that subtle shift in his tone, the way his compliments felt like more than just professional admiration. She wanted to brush it off, to tell herself it didn't matter. But how could she, when every time they were together, the atmosphere seemed charged with something unspoken?
She cleared her throat, forcing her attention back to the task at hand. "Thanks. We'll need to get the design teams on board with the concept by the end of the week." She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to ignore the way his gaze lingered on her.
They worked in silence for a few minutes, but the quiet between them felt heavy. Olivia could sense it—something between them was changing. It wasn't just business anymore, and no matter how much she tried to deny it, she couldn't pretend that Ethan's presence didn't affect her.
Finally, unable to stand the tension any longer, Olivia spoke up. "Ethan, about what you said the other day…"
He looked up, his expression softening. "What about it?"
She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I've been thinking… we're in the middle of a very delicate business deal. There's a lot riding on this merger, and—"
"And you're worried I'll be a distraction," he finished for her, his voice calm but his eyes filled with something deeper.
Olivia pressed her lips together, unsure how to respond. A distraction wasn't the right word. No, it was more than that. He was becoming essential—not just to the merger, but to her.
"I don't want to complicate things," she said finally. "We're supposed to be partners, working together to make this merger happen. If we cross that line…"
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked on hers. "Maybe we already have."
Her breath hitched. He was right, of course. The line had blurred a long time ago. She'd felt it in every look, every touch, every gift he gave her. What they had now wasn't just a business arrangement—it was something far more personal.
"I'm not saying we should ignore what's happening between us," he continued, his voice low. "But I also don't see why we need to fight it."
Olivia looked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, but she was also terrified of what it could mean. Getting involved with Ethan—emotionally involved—would change everything. She wasn't sure she was ready for that.
"I don't know, Ethan," she murmured, still avoiding his gaze. "This merger… it's important. I've worked so hard to build Carter Couture. I can't afford any mistakes."
Ethan reached across the table, his hand gently covering hers. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine. "I understand that," he said softly. "But I also know that we're stronger together. As business partners, yes. But maybe as something more too."
Her eyes finally met his, and for a moment, the rest of the world fell away. All that mattered was the way he was looking at her—like she was the only thing that mattered.
"Just think about it," he added, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before pulling away.
Olivia nodded slowly, her mind spinning. She had never been good at letting her guard down, at allowing herself to feel vulnerable. But with Ethan, it was becoming harder and harder to keep those walls up.
As they wrapped up the meeting and prepared to leave, Olivia felt a strange mix of emotions. The boundaries between them had been clear once—strictly professional, nothing personal. But now? Now, those boundaries were fading, and she wasn't sure how to bring them back.
Outside, the evening sun cast a warm glow over the city, and Olivia couldn't help but feel like she was standing on the edge of something new. Something that terrified her, but also excited her in ways she couldn't quite explain.
As she turned to leave, she heard Ethan's voice one last time. "Olivia, whatever happens, I'm here. For the merger. And for you."
She looked back at him, her heart pounding. For the first time in a long while, she didn't know what to say. So she just nodded and walked away, the boundaries between them more blurred than ever.