The attraction I felt towards Alex has grown so strong,it's been a week since we last saw and my company is back up and has been booming but I just keep thinking about him, his eyes, his nose and those kissable lips, I have never felt this way before, in my 24 years of life, yes I'm a 24 year old virgin so yeah this feelings are new so enough about me . I made another tough decision again,the decision didn't come easy. It weighed on me for days after that meeting—Alex's cold, impenetrable stare and the way he seemed to see through me, beyond the surface. But after confiding in Celine and Serena, I realized something.
I couldn't just be another business transaction to him. I wouldn't let him reduce me to that.
So, I made a choice, a bold one. Instead of letting the power dynamic crush me, I would take control in the only way I knew how—I'd approach him differently. I couldn't compete with his wealth, his influence, or his intimidating presence in the business world. But maybe, just maybe, I could level the playing field by making this personal.
I was going to be *friends* with Alex Mercer.
It sounded ridiculous, maybe even naive. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. He was used to people fearing him, bowing to him. What if I could change that? What if I could surprise him—show him something he didn't expect?
Friendship wasn't something you could negotiate or control like a business deal. It required trust, vulnerability, something I suspected Alex wasn't familiar with. If I could reach him on that level, maybe things wouldn't feel so uneven. Maybe I could steer this mess in a different direction. And if nothing else, it would give me back some semblance of power.
The next day, I found myself standing outside his office again. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited, palms sweating despite the cool air conditioning. The familiar tension crept back in, the weight of his presence even before I'd seen him. But I steeled myself, ready to take the first step.
His assistant waved me in, and as I stepped through the door, there he was—Alex Volkov , seated behind his massive mahogany desk, looking every bit as calm and collected as the last time we'd met. His sharp blue eyes flicked up from his work, landing on me with that same intensity that never failed to send a shiver down my spine.
"Miss Dalton," he greeted, his voice as smooth and detached as ever. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
I smiled, trying to push past the nerves that tightened in my throat. "I was hoping we could talk. Not about business—well, not just business."
One of his eyebrows arched slightly, the only indication that my words had caught him off guard. "Is there something else you'd like to discuss?"
"Actually, yeah." I stepped further into the room, feeling the weight of his gaze on me with every step. "I've been thinking… we're going to be working closely together. And instead of just seeing this as a cold, transactional relationship, I thought maybe we could start by getting to know each other. As… friends."
There. I'd said it.
The silence that followed was thick, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd completely miscalculated. But then, Alex's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his expression unreadable as always.
"Friends," he repeated, the word almost foreign on his tongue.
I nodded, forcing myself to keep eye contact, even though every instinct told me to look away. "Yeah. Friends. You know, people who get to know each other beyond contracts and negotiations. I mean, we're going to be in each other's lives for a while, right? Why not make it… less formal?"
His gaze didn't waver, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—curiosity, maybe, or amusement. It was hard to tell with him. "You're suggesting we shift our dynamic from business associates to friends."
I shrugged, trying to keep it casual, though the tension in the room made that almost impossible. "Why not? It's unconventional, sure, but I think it could work. I mean, I don't know what you do outside of your billion-dollar empire, but I can't imagine you have a lot of people in your life who see you as just… Alex."
He blinked, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw something crack in his armor, a flicker of surprise or intrigue. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that cool, composed exterior he always wore like a second skin.
"I don't usually have time for friendships," he said, his tone still measured, but there was something softer underneath. "Or people trying to get close to me for… other reasons."
"I'm not trying to manipulate you, if that's what you're thinking." I held my hands up in surrender. "Honestly, it's the opposite. I want to understand you. I don't want to be one of those people who are intimidated by you or see you as just the 'cold billionaire.' I want to be able to have a conversation with you without feeling like I'm always two steps behind."
Alex leaned back in his chair, watching me with a scrutiny that sent a chill down my spine. But there was something different in his gaze now—like he was seeing me in a new light.
"Friendship," he mused again, this time as if testing the idea in his mind. "It's been a long time since anyone's approached me with that in mind."
I smiled, feeling a small sense of victory. "Maybe it's time someone did."
He was quiet for a long moment, and I could see the gears turning in his head, his expression unreadable. But then, to my surprise, the corners of his mouth lifted—just barely, but enough for me to notice.
"Alright, Emma," he said, his voice softer, almost thoughtful. "Let's see where this… friendship leads."