Lila stood before the massive glass windows of her penthouse office, the skyline of the city spread out before her like a sea of glimmering lights. She could feel the pressure of the day weighing heavily on her—more deals to finalize, more decisions to make, more people to manage. It was the same every day, a relentless cycle of meetings, calculations, and expectations.
Her phone buzzed on the desk behind her, a sound that seemed to echo in the quiet room. She turned reluctantly, glancing at the name on the screen. It was her father, of course. The calls were becoming more frequent, more demanding. Charles Devereaux was a man who never stopped, and Lila had long ago learned that disappointing him was not an option.
But as she reached for the phone, she hesitated. Something about today felt different. The weight in her chest, the tightening of her shoulders—there was something she couldn't shake, something that had started with Ethan's quiet words and lingered long after.
"You don't always have to carry it alone."
The words seemed to echo in her mind, more persistent than they had any right to be. She had heard them before, but this time, they held a different meaning. She could feel herself unraveling, and for once, she didn't know how to stop it.
Her father's voice jolted her back to reality. "Lila," he began, the command in his tone unmistakable. "We need to talk about the next phase of the merger. We can't afford delays. Make sure Blake stays on track."
Lila clenched her jaw, pushing aside the strange vulnerability she had been battling all day. "I'll handle it," she said, her voice steady and composed, as always.
Charles didn't seem to notice the weariness in her tone. "Good. I expect nothing less. Keep your focus, Lila. This is the time for results, not distractions."
As the call ended, Lila stared at the phone for a moment, her fingers tightening around it. Distractions. That's all Ethan was—wasn't he? Just another complication in her already complicated life.
And yet…
A knock on the door startled her, and she turned to see Ethan standing there, a stack of files in his hand, his usual calm expression hiding whatever thoughts were running through his head.
"Blake," she said, her voice clipped, professional. "What is it?"
"I've finished the analysis on the Devereaux Group's quarterly projections," he said, stepping into the room. His presence was quiet but undeniable, his sharp eyes scanning the room before locking onto hers. "I thought you'd want to go over them before the meeting."
Lila nodded, gesturing for him to sit. He placed the files on the desk between them, but instead of stepping back, he lingered, his gaze resting on her. For a brief moment, Lila could feel the weight of his attention on her, like he was seeing more than just the CEO of Devereaux Enterprises—he was seeing her, the person behind the persona.
Her breath hitched slightly, and she forced herself to push the feeling away. "We have a lot to do. We'll go through the numbers first," she said, her tone sharp, professional, as if the wall she had built was still standing strong.
But as they began reviewing the files, Lila couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan was watching her in a way that was different—intent, almost like he was waiting for something. And despite her best efforts, she felt herself drawn to him, her thoughts drifting back to that quiet moment when he had challenged her to let someone else carry the burden.
Why was she letting him in? Why was she feeling this thing—this pull toward someone who was supposed to be just another employee?
As the hours passed, Lila found herself responding to him more than she should have. She found herself questioning the walls she had spent so long constructing. And when the workday ended, instead of retreating to her safe space, she lingered in the office, staring out at the city that never slept.
Ethan's words were still there, lingering in the back of her mind. Maybe it was time to let the armor crack—just a little. Maybe, just maybe, Ethan Blake was the one who could make her believe it was possible to let someone in.