Aiden Blackwood was impossible.One minute, he was acting like I didn't exist. The next, he was calling me a distraction and looking at me with those piercing blue eyes, like I was something he couldn't quite figure out.And the worst part?I felt it.That tension. The way my skin tingled when he was near. The way my stomach twisted when he spoke in that deep, commanding voice.But I refused to be affected.I had spent too many years yearning for someone who never saw me. I wouldn't make that mistake again.Not with him.
The Morning After
The next morning, I was determined to shake off whatever weird effect Aiden had on me.I dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit—casual but flattering—and headed downstairs for breakfast.Lily and Oliver were already there, chatting animatedly over pancakes.But Aiden?Of course not.I should have expected that.Then, just as I took a seat, he walked in.He was dressed for work—dark grey slacks, a crisp white shirt, his usual aura of power and arrogance wrapped around him like a cloak.But this time…He hesitated.For a fraction of a second, he actually paused when he saw me.It was brief—barely noticeable—but I caught it.His gaze flickered over me, lingering on my outfit, then moved away just as quickly.Like last night had never happened.Like I wasn't worth a second thought.I clenched my jaw, ignoring the way my pulse betrayed me."Morning," I said, forcing my voice to stay neutral.Aiden nodded. "Morning."That was it.No other words. No acknowledgment of our midnight conversation.And it shouldn't have annoyed me as much as it did.Aiden's Weak Moment
That afternoon, I wandered outside to the back garden, needing fresh air.I was expecting peace.I wasn't expecting to find him.Aiden was there, standing near the pool, phone pressed to his ear.His posture was stiff, his jaw clenched. His usual cold, unreadable mask was replaced with something else—tension."…No," he said sharply into the phone. "I don't care. Fix it."A pause. Then, a low, frustrated sigh. "That's not my problem. I don't hire incompetence."Whoever was on the other end must have said something that pushed him too far, because his next words came out clipped, dangerous."You have five hours."Then he hung up.I should have walked away. Should have minded my own business.But instead, I stepped forward."Bad day?"Aiden's shoulders stiffened. He turned, his gaze locking onto me.I expected him to snap. To tell me to mind my own business.Instead, he let out a slow breath. "Something like that."Something about the way he said it caught me off guard.He sounded… tired.Almost human."Want to talk about it?" I asked, surprising myself.Aiden gave me a look, like the very idea of him sharing anything was ridiculous."No."I rolled my eyes. "Of course."I turned to leave, but then—"I lost a deal."I stopped.His voice was quieter, like he hadn't meant to say it out loud.I glanced back. "A big one?"He exhaled sharply. "Multi-million."I whistled. "Ouch."For a second, we just stood there. The wind ruffled my hair, and Aiden's gaze flickered to it before he looked away.Then, he shook his head, like snapping himself out of something. "It's business. It happens."I watched him for a moment. "You don't seem like the kind of guy who lets things just 'happen.'"A slow smirk touched his lips. "No. I don't."The shift was instant. The brief crack in his armor was gone, replaced with the arrogant, unreadable Aiden Blackwood.And just like that, the moment was over.But I had seen it.For the first time, he had let me see him.And I wasn't sure what that meant.The First Signs of Possessiveness
That night, Oliver invited me out with his friends.We ended up at a high-end lounge downtown—classy, but lively.I was sipping on a cocktail, chatting with one of Oliver's friends, when I felt it.A presence.The hair on my neck stood up. A familiar tension coiled in my stomach.I turned—And there he was.Aiden Blackwood.Standing at the entrance, his icy blue gaze locked on me.I blinked.What the hell was he doing here?Oliver noticed and grinned. "Oh, look who decided to show up. Finally decided to have a social life, big bro?"Aiden ignored him, his gaze still fixed on me.And that's when I saw it—The briefest flicker of something dark in his eyes.Something territorial.Like he didn't like seeing me here.With other men.I swallowed, my heart pounding.Then, as if nothing had happened, Aiden turned away and walked toward the VIP section.But I knew.I felt it.And when the guy I had been talking to leaned in closer, Aiden's jaw clenched.I smirked.So, the billionaire wasn't as indifferent as he pretended to be.Interesting.Very interesting.