Chapter 16: Under His Spell
Mia woke up the next morning with an unexpected sense of excitement swirling in her chest. She couldn't remember the last time a man had made her feel this way—this constant rush of adrenaline, the way his touch left a lingering warmth on her skin. She tried to focus, but the memory of Alexander's kiss was too fresh in her mind.
She couldn't deny it: Alexander Knight had gotten under her skin in ways she couldn't explain. Despite her resistance, despite the walls she'd put up, she was already starting to crumble under the weight of his presence.
Her phone buzzed, cutting through her thoughts. She picked it up quickly, hoping it was a message from him.
"Good morning, Mia. I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight. I can't stop thinking about our last date. You have a way of keeping me on edge, and I like it. – A.K."
Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message. She could feel the intensity behind his words, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She'd never been one to fall for someone so quickly, but Alexander made it so difficult to resist.
She replied, a hint of playful defiance in her words: "Glad to know I'm keeping you on edge. I'll see you tonight. – M.A."
With that, she tried to push thoughts of him aside, but it wasn't easy. The day dragged on, her thoughts constantly wandering back to Alexander and what was happening between them. There was no denying the chemistry—they both felt it, even if neither was willing to fully acknowledge it.
At 7 pm, Mia stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the strap of her dress. It was a deep red silk dress, simple but elegant, hugging her curves just right. She looked at her reflection, barely recognizing the woman staring back. The woman who was no longer trying to avoid Alexander's gaze, but actually seeking it. The woman who had just sent a flirtatious text to him, already counting down the hours until their next meeting.
There was no escaping it now. Alexander had gotten into her head, and Mia was starting to wonder if that was exactly what he wanted.
When she arrived at the restaurant, Alexander was waiting for her. As always, he looked impeccable—sharp suit, crisp shirt, his hair styled just perfectly. His eyes found hers almost immediately, that familiar intensity returning as their gazes locked.
"You're late," he said, his voice soft but commanding, just the way she liked it.
Mia smiled, playing the game. "I like to keep you waiting."
"You do it so well," he said, his lips curling into a smile. He gestured for her to sit, and as she did, he leaned in just enough to make her heart race. "Tell me, Mia, do you always keep people on edge, or am I just special?"
She raised an eyebrow, meeting his teasing tone with one of her own. "Maybe you are special, but don't get too cocky. I don't make it a habit of getting close to people."
Alexander's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but it was enough for Mia to catch it. She could tell he wasn't used to being challenged, but she wasn't going to make it easy for him. She refused to be another woman who fawned over him because of his wealth, his power.
The night continued in a similar fashion—playful, flirtatious, but with an undercurrent of something deeper. Alexander continued to push her buttons, and Mia found herself responding, letting her walls slip just a little.
As the evening wore on, the conversation became more personal. They talked about their childhoods, their dreams, and their fears. Alexander shared a little about his strained relationship with his father, about the pressure he felt to constantly prove himself. Mia, in turn, told him about her own struggles as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how she had worked so hard to get where she was.
By the end of the night, Mia felt something shift between them. It wasn't just chemistry anymore—it was something more profound. She could feel it in the way he looked at her, in the way he listened so intently.
As they stood outside the restaurant, Alexander placed a hand on her arm, his touch warm and firm.
"You're incredible, Mia," he said, his voice soft, almost vulnerable. "You make me want to be a better man."
Mia's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say to that. She wasn't sure if she was ready to let someone in that deeply, especially someone as complicated and enigmatic as Alexander.
But as his fingers brushed against her skin, she found herself drawn to him—no longer just out of curiosity or attraction, but something deeper.
She looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "I'm not sure what this is between us, Alexander, but I can't deny the pull I feel toward you."
His lips curled into a smile. "Then let's explore it, Mia. Together."
The words lingered in the air, charged with an intensity neither of them had expected. Mia felt herself teetering on the edge, uncertain of where this path would lead—but at the same time, something inside her was eager to find out.