Chapter 15: Unraveling Secrets
Mia arrived at the office early the next morning, her mind still buzzing with the events of the previous night. Alexander's words from his text—"I think I might be falling for you"—replayed in her mind on a loop, each time making her pulse quicken. It was hard to ignore the way he made her feel, the way his gaze could make her forget everything but him. But she couldn't let herself get carried away. He was Alexander Knight—a man whose world was built on power and control, not love.
She sat down at her desk, attempting to focus on the project in front of her, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. The way he had looked at her in that dimly lit restaurant, the way his hand had brushed against hers when he'd taken it after dinner. There had been something in the air that night—something electric, undeniable. But Mia wasn't naive. She knew better than to mistake attraction for something real.
As the morning passed in a blur, Mia was interrupted by a soft knock on her office door. She looked up to see Alexander standing there, his expression unreadable, his gaze intense as always.
"I need you to come with me," he said, his tone brokering no argument. "There's something I want to show you."
Mia hesitated for a moment, feeling a surge of uncertainty. She had no idea what Alexander's game was anymore. The way he had been acting lately—charming one moment, distant the next—was enough to make anyone feel off balance.
"Can it wait? I have a lot to get done today," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
Alexander's lips curved into that same mysterious, knowing smile that never failed to make her heart skip a beat. "It's important," he said simply. "I'll make it worth your while."
Against her better judgment, Mia stood up, grabbing her purse. She couldn't quite explain why, but something about the way he said it made her feel compelled to follow him. Perhaps it was his undeniable presence, or maybe it was the fact that she couldn't resist the pull between them.
She walked with him down the hall, trying to steady the thoughts racing through her mind. Alexander led her to the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor of the building. Mia glanced at him, her pulse quickening.
"What are you showing me?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Alexander didn't answer immediately, his eyes focused ahead. The elevator doors slid open, and he led her out into the luxurious top floor, a sprawling space that Mia hadn't even known existed. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered an incredible view of the city, and the room was filled with expensive-looking art and sleek, minimalist furniture.
"Welcome to my world," Alexander said, his voice unusually soft.
Mia's gaze swept the room, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. There was a vulnerability in his tone that made her uneasy. It was almost like he was showing her a side of him that he never revealed to anyone.
He gestured for her to sit on a plush sofa, and as she did, he walked over to a small desk covered in papers. Mia watched as he carefully picked up a folder and turned back to her, his expression serious.
"I've been thinking about this project... about the future of this company," Alexander began, his eyes meeting hers. "And I want you to be a part of it. I want you to help me take Knight Enterprises to the next level. But it's not just about the work. I need someone I can trust."
Mia's brow furrowed. "Trust? Why me?"
Alexander hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering, his voice lower now, more earnest. "Because I believe in what you can do. And because I think you're the only person who can understand the vision I have."
Mia felt a strange mix of emotions—surprise, suspicion, and something else she couldn't quite place. She had always known that Alexander was driven, but hearing him speak so earnestly, without his usual guarded demeanor, threw her off. It felt like a side of him she'd never seen before.
But just as quickly as it had come, that vulnerability seemed to fade, replaced by his usual confident, commanding presence.
"I need you to say yes," he continued, his eyes locking onto hers. "This isn't just about the project. It's about us."
Mia's heart raced, her mind reeling. There was a weight in his words, a promise, but also a warning. She could feel the pull between them, something deeper than professional ambition, and she hated how easily it was drawing her in.
Before she could respond, Alexander's phone buzzed, pulling him out of the moment. He glanced at it, and for a brief moment, his expression shifted to something more guarded.
"I'll give you some time to think about it," he said, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "But not too long."
Mia nodded, her thoughts clouded. She needed space to process everything. As she stood up to leave, Alexander's gaze followed her, and she could feel the weight of his attention on her.
"You know where to find me," he said with a quiet intensity that seemed to linger in the air long after she had left the room.
Walking back to her office, Mia's mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. Was Alexander truly being vulnerable with her? Or was this just another one of his games, a test to see how far he could push her before she broke?
She didn't know what to make of it, but one thing was certain: there was something more to this connection between them. And despite her best efforts to remain distant, Mia knew that it was only a matter of time before she was in too deep to escape.
And when that moment came, she wasn't sure if she'd want to.