The car moved through the quiet streets, the city lights blurring past the window.
I wanted to stop, to push him back. But I couldn't, I also wanted him.
He grabbed back pushed me closer to him. Our lips still locked. Desperate. Longing and something else.
Finally, he pulled back. Our breathe heavy. He stared at me the looked away. Avoiding my eyes.
My lips still tingled from the kiss, and I couldn't stop the trembling. I pulled back slightly and whispered, almost afraid he would hear the fear in my voice.
"Kennedy…"
He didn't meet my eyes.
The silence that filled the car pressed against me, heavy, almost suffocating.
The driver kept his gaze on the road, pretending he didn't notice the tension between us.
I could feel my heartbeat thumping in my ears, louder than the engine's hum.
Why did he do that? My voice broke the silence before I could stop myself.
"Because I couldn't pretend anymore," he said quietly, his voice calm but loaded with something I couldn't place. Desire? Control? Anger? I didn't know, but my stomach twisted at the honesty in his words.
Our eyes met finally, and in that instant, everything changed.
Tension, desire, fear, honesty, and denial, all swirled between us.
I couldn't look away, even though I wanted to. I wanted him and I hated myself for it.
"This… it can't happen again," I whispered, trying to sound firm, trying to regain some control over myself.
"I know," he said softly. His voice was low, almost a confession.
Then his eyes flicked over mine again, and I could see it: a warning, a pull, a struggle he couldn't fully hide.
"But I don't know if I can control myself."
Anger and confusion surged through me. How could I feel this way?
I was here to destroy him, to find everything he wanted to hide, to bring down his empire, and yet… I wanted him.
My mind raged against my own heart.
"I..." I stopped myself, my words caught somewhere between fear and desire.
"I shouldn't… I shouldn't want this."
He leaned slightly closer, his hand brushing mine on the seat.
"I'm trying to stop myself too," he said quietly. "But something keeps pulling me toward you. And I know it's dangerous."
"Dangerous?" I asked sharply, even though my voice shook. "How are you dangerous?"
He didn't answer. His eyes told me more than words could.
Something dark and controlled simmered beneath that calm exterior.
The car slowed as we neared my estate.
My heart twisted at the thought of leaving him, yet a part of me didn't want to.
"This is fine," I said, motioning to the curb. "Drop me here."
He didn't move. His eyes locked on mine, intense and unreadable. Then, finally, his voice came, low and steady.
"Elena… stay away from me, please."
I opened the door slowly, letting the cool evening air wash over me.
My legs felt weak, my chest tight. I nodded, unable to say anything.
My heart pounded, confusion and pain twisting inside me. I hated myself for wanting him, yet part of me wanted nothing else.
I walked home, the familiar smell of home doing little to calm my mind.
Patricia was in the living room, smiling faintly, ready to speak.
But I barely noticed. My thoughts were a storm: the kiss, his words, the pull I felt toward him.
I ignored Patricia completely, heading straight to my room.
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting the world fall away.
My mind replayed every detail: the kiss, his hands, his eyes.
My body remembered what my brain wanted to forget. I hated that I wanted him, that part of me felt drawn to him despite every warning.
Why do I want him? I asked myself. I'm supposed to destroy him, not crave him.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor. My chest tightened.
I couldn't stop thinking about him, about how he made me feel alive and terrified at the same time.
My mission, my purpose, to expose him, to take back my mother's company, was still at the forefront of my mind. But beneath that, a raw, undeniable pull toward him gnawed at me.
My phone buzzed on the bedside table, jolting me from my thoughts.
Hands shaking slightly, I picked it up. A new message blinked on the screen.
"Let's meet this evening. My mansion. We need to discuss the presentation tomorrow."
I stared at the words, my heart thundering in my chest.
I knew there was more behind that message than just work. I knew it wasn't about the presentation alone.
And yet… I couldn't resist.
I wanted to see him again. I wanted to understand him, to feel that pull once more.
Part of me screamed not to go, that it was dangerous, that I should stay away.
But another part, he part that had always wanted answers, that had always wanted control, saw an opportunity.
A way to get closer to him, to learn about Jagu, to dig for the secrets he was hiding.
And deep down, I knew the truth.
It wasn't just about work. It was about him. I wanted him. I hated myself for it, but I couldn't deny it.
I set my phone down, my mind spinning.
The evening stretched before me, heavy with tension, danger, and desire. And despite every warning, I knew I would go.
Because part of me didn't want to stay away.