For the next few weeks, Isabella and Alexander were in constant contact—meetings, emails, late-night phone calls. Their partnership became the center of attention in the business world, sparking curiosity, envy, and speculation. Everyone wanted to know how Harper & Co. managed to secure a deal with the elusive Alexander Knight.
But behind the headlines, the reality was far more complicated.
Working with Alexander was like walking a tightrope. He was brilliant, demanding, and relentless. He pushed her, questioned every move, and expected nothing short of excellence. But in between those sharp exchanges and cold assessments were fleeting moments—glimpses of something unspoken.
A lingering look.
A brush of hands during a paper exchange.
A silence that said too much.
Isabella found herself anticipating their meetings with more than just professional interest, and that realization both frustrated and unnerved her. She had never allowed herself to blur lines—not in business, and certainly not with someone like him.
And yet… something was shifting.
It was a Thursday evening when the shift became undeniable.
The boardroom was empty except for the two of them. They had spent the last three hours reviewing projections for their joint project launch. The city lights glimmered outside the glass walls, and the atmosphere had grown heavy with something that wasn't just work tension.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on her. "You've surprised me, Isabella."
She didn't look up from her notes. "I tend to do that."
"No, I mean it. You're different."
Now, her eyes met his. "Different how?"
He hesitated—something he rarely did—before answering. "You don't back down. Most people do, eventually."
She tilted her head. "Maybe I just haven't been pushed far enough yet."
His expression darkened slightly, intrigued. "Do you want to be?"
The question hung in the air, charged and dangerous.
Isabella stood abruptly, needing space—needing to breathe. She walked toward the window, her back to him. "Is this another test, Mr. Knight? Or are we stepping outside business boundaries now?"
She heard him rise, his footsteps slow and deliberate as he came up behind her.
"I think you and I crossed that line the moment you walked into my office the first day," he said softly.
She turned, eyes locking with his. "Then maybe we need to draw a new one."
A long pause. Then—
"Maybe we don't."
The silence between them was deafening. Neither of them moved. The tension coiled tighter and tighter—until Isabella finally stepped back, the air rushing back into her lungs.
"I should go," she said quietly, grabbing her coat.
Alexander didn't stop her. But as she reached the door, his voice came low and calm.
"You'll come back. You always do."
She paused—just for a heartbeat—before walking out.
And he was right.
She would.