Lily couldn't stop replaying the kiss in her mind. She'd tried, but the more she thought about it, the more her body seemed to betray her. It wasn't just the kiss—it was the heat, the raw intensity, the way Maxwell's touch had ignited something inside her that she didn't even know existed.
She stood by her office window, staring out at the city below, trying to gather her thoughts. The skyline was a sea of lights, each one representing a different life, a different story. But all she could focus on was the man who had stepped into her life, turning everything upside down.
Maxwell.
His face, his lips, the way he'd kissed her—every detail seemed burned into her memory. She should have pulled away, should have stopped him before it went too far, but she didn't. Part of her hadn't wanted to. The part of her that was tired of playing by the rules, tired of being the good girl. And now that she had crossed that line, she wasn't sure what to do next.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Maxwell's name.
"Is he going to bring it up?" she whispered to herself. Her fingers hovered over the phone for a moment before she finally swiped to answer.
"Lily," Maxwell's voice came through the line, low and smooth. "Can we talk?"
She could feel the weight of his words even through the phone. It wasn't a question—it was a command.
"About?" she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, even though her heart was racing in her chest.
"I'm sending the car for you," he said. "Meet me for dinner. We need to discuss the project."
Lily's eyes narrowed. She knew what that meant. The project was just a cover for what had happened between them. "Fine," she said, her voice cool despite the growing tension in her stomach. "I'll be ready."
The line went dead, and Lily stared at the phone for a moment before taking a deep breath. She had to face him—face what had happened. She couldn't keep running from it, no matter how much she wanted to.
---
An hour later, Lily stepped out of her apartment, the car waiting for her outside. Her mind was still racing, and she felt the weight of what was to come hanging over her. She couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut, the anticipation of what would happen when she saw Maxwell again.
The drive to the restaurant felt endless. Each minute that ticked by made her more anxious, more unsure. She knew Maxwell would be waiting for her, and there was no way out of this conversation. She had to confront him, had to figure out what they were going to do about the undeniable attraction between them.
When the car finally pulled up to the upscale restaurant, Lily took a deep breath and stepped out, trying to calm her nerves. She had to act normal—professional, composed, like nothing had changed. But deep down, she knew that everything had changed.
Maxwell was already at the table when she entered the private dining room. He looked as composed as ever, his dark suit sharply tailored, his expression unreadable. But there was something different in his eyes—something that made her heart flutter.
He stood when he saw her, his gaze locking with hers, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them was palpable, thick and heavy in the air. It was as if they were both waiting for the other to make the first move.
Lily took her seat across from him, trying to keep her cool. She couldn't let him see how much he was affecting her. "You wanted to talk?" she said, her voice steady but not without the edge of uncertainty that she was feeling.
Maxwell didn't waste any time. He leaned forward, his gaze intense as he looked at her. "Lily, we need to talk about what happened between us. The kiss."
Her throat went dry at the mention of it. She forced herself to meet his gaze, even though every part of her wanted to look away. "There's nothing to talk about," she said, her voice colder than she intended. "It was a mistake. We both know that."
Maxwell's lips quirked into a half-smile, but there was no humor in it. "A mistake, huh?" His voice dropped an octave, his tone low and dangerous. "Is that what you think it was?"
Lily's pulse quickened at the way he was looking at her—like he was waiting for her to admit something, waiting for her to crack. But she refused to give in. She wasn't going to let him control this situation. Not again.
"Yes," she said firmly, her eyes narrowing. "It was a mistake, and we need to forget it happened. We're professionals, Maxwell. That's all we need to be."
Maxwell leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "I don't think you understand, Lily. That kiss was anything but a mistake. It was real. And I think you know it just as well as I do."
The air between them grew even thicker, charged with electricity. Lily's breath caught in her throat, and she had to fight the overwhelming urge to get up and walk out. But she stayed, her body frozen in place, her eyes locked on his. She couldn't deny what he was saying, couldn't deny the truth of it. She had felt it too.
"I can't do this," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "This isn't just about us anymore. It's about the company. Our positions. Our reputation."
Maxwell's gaze darkened. "And what if I don't care about any of that?" He stood abruptly, walking around the table until he was standing in front of her. "What if I only care about you?"
Lily's heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his voice. She looked up at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps, and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her again.
Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You can deny it all you want, but I know what's between us. And I'm not walking away from it."
Her mind raced as she tried to find a way out, but there was no escaping the desire building between them. It was undeniable, and no matter how hard she tried to fight it, she was falling deeper into the web he had woven around her.