Part 6 –
By Monday morning, the building buzzed with energy.
The Wolfe Winter Gala was now just under two weeks away, and every department felt the pressure like a rising tide. Interns rushed down halls with fabric samples. Senior executives argued over guest lists and sponsorship placements. Stress clung to the air like static.
But Lila? She walked through it all with a calm fierceness that surprised even herself.
Maybe it was because she'd spent the entire weekend refining the presentation. Maybe it was because she could still hear Ethan's voice in her head "Don't become like them."
Or maybe it was the way he had looked at her in the Langley ballroom. Like he wasn't just listening to what she said but seeing her, layer by layer.
Still, she couldn't afford distractions. Not here. Not now.
Her phone buzzed as she stepped into the elevator.
Ethan Wolfe:
You're ten minutes early. I approve.
She blinked at the message, caught between a smile and confusion. Since when did Ethan Wolfe text with anything even resembling personality?
She replied:
Lila Monroe:
I thought being early was expected, not impressive.
Ethan Wolfe:
It is. But I'm not used to expectations being met.
Lila's heart did that annoying little flutter again. And the day hadn't even started.
Wolfe Enterprises – Top Floor Conference Room
By 8:45 a.m., she was standing in front of the executive committee Ethan included presenting the final design concept for the gala.
Her voice was steady, confident. The visuals? Clean, elevated, sophisticated. She spoke of guest experience, sensory layers, subtle branding, and the kind of emotional storytelling that turned a high-society event into a moment of cultural relevance.
The room was silent when she finished. For a beat. Two.
Then Ethan leaned back, arms crossed over his chest, and said, "That's the best pitch I've heard in six years."
Gasps weren't audible but the shift in the room was unmistakable.
People turned toward him. Toward her.
Lila kept her face neutral, though her pulse drummed wildly in her throat.
"She'll have everything she needs," Ethan continued. "No budget limits. No red tape. If she needs your department, you say yes."
And just like that, she was no longer just the young woman from Events.
She was his choice.
And that made her dangerous.
Later That Afternoon – His Office
"I need to talk to you," he said, voice low and unreadable as she stepped in.
Lila closed the door behind her. "Is there a problem?"
Ethan stood by the window again, hands in his pockets, jacket off. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, veins in his forearms visible. His tie hung loose, like he'd forgotten about it halfway through the day.
"No," he said. "But I need you to understand what that room meant."
She raised a brow. "You backed me. Publicly."
"Which puts you in the line of fire," he replied, turning toward her. "Some of them will resent you for it. Others will test you. And the rest will watch for you to fail."
"I'm not planning to fail."
"I know," he said simply. "But I've seen brilliance get buried under politics before. You're not here to survive, Lila. You're here to win."
His voice had dropped low and intense. And maybe it was the late afternoon light, or the way his sleeves strained slightly over his arms, but she felt her body respond to him again. That familiar pull, slow and undeniable.
"You don't exactly make things easy," she said softly.
"I'm not supposed to."
"No," she said. "But you're making it… confusing."
There it was. Spoken aloud. Not flirtation. Not teasing. Just truth.
Ethan stepped closer. Just a fraction of a step.
"You're not the only one confused," he said. "That's the problem."
Silence hummed between them too loud, too full.
Then he straightened, as if snapping a cord.
"I'll have the vendor contracts approved by end of day. You'll brief me tomorrow morning on any changes."
And just like that, the door closed again. Not physically, but emotionally.
Business. Boundaries. Control.
But Lila saw it now beneath the glass and steel, Ethan Wolfe had cracks.
Cracks she hadn't expected. Cracks he didn't want anyone to see.
And part of her, dangerous and drawn, wanted to reach through and touch them.