Chapter 18

He was so close, his breath fanning my face. I gulped when his hands rested against my waist, butterflies that I had not expect was swirling within my lower belly as I looked at him.

*What does it look like I am doing, Kiara," he said smoothly, his hands bracing the table on either side of me, trapping me in. His eyes roamed over me in a way that made me feel both vulnerable and electrified.

He made me feel bare.

"Stop playing games," I breathed, trying to steady my voice. My body felt like it was on fire, and I couldn't tell if it was from anger or something far more dangerous.

His breath was hot against my cheek as he leaned in slightly, his lips just barely brushing the shell of my ear. "Who said I'm playing?"

A shiver ran down my spine. I could feel his chest rise and fall, the heat of his body so close it made my knees weak. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated that my body was responding to him this way.

"Jason, let go," I said, trying to muster some authority, but my voice came out breathless.

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching mine. The room felt like it was closing in, every inch between us charged with something dangerously magnetic. I couldn't tear my gaze away from his lips, so close yet so out of reach.

For a split second, it felt like time had stopped, like we were suspended in this tension, neither one of us willing to break it. His hand moved, lightly brushing against my thigh where my skirt had ridden up, sending a jolt through me that I tried desperately to ignore.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. My head was screaming at me to push him away, to reestablish the professional boundary that had clearly been crossed. But my body... my body was betraying me, every nerve alight with the proximity of him.

He pulled back slightly, his smirk fading into something more serious, more intense. "You hate that you want this," he said softly, his eyes dark with something that felt too raw, too real.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I don't—"

"Yes, you do," he murmured, his hand gently sliding away from my thigh as he took a deliberate step back, releasing me from his hold. "But I won't push you. Not until you admit it."

I stood there, breathless, my body still humming from the closeness, and watched as he walked back to his chair, his usual smirk now replaced by a knowing look. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.

And the worst part? He was right.

I hated that I wanted this. That some twisted part of me had craved that moment, the push and pull of whatever this tension between us was. But I wouldn't admit it—not to him. Not to myself.

"You're dismissed," he said finally, breaking the silence.

But I didn't leave. I couldn't.

"Why... why are you doing this to me? Is it because we had a one-night stand and you want another taste, or is there something more?"

Jason's smile faltered for just a second, his eyes narrowing. "Is that what you think?"

I crossed my arms, my heart still racing from the closeness of moments ago. "What else am I supposed to think? You've been messing with my head since that night, and now you're throwing me around like it's some kind of game to you. As if your goal is to claim me."

He stepped closer, his expression hardening. Different from the playful personality he normally portrayed. "You think this is about a one-night stand?"

"Then what is it?" I shot back, my voice rising. "What do you want from me, Jason?"

He was silent for a moment, staring at me as if trying to figure out the answer himself. But then, before he could respond, something on his desk caught my eye. A file sitting on the corner, just within my view. My eyes skimmed the title, and I immediately felt a chill down my spine.

I walked over to the desk, picking it up before he could stop me. "This… you're going to invest in this?"

Jason frowned. "What about it?"

"Don't," I said firmly, holding the file in my hands. "Don't invest in this."

He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms now. "And why's that? I've already done the research, Kiara."

I shook my head, flipping open the file and scanning the details inside. "I've seen this before. It's a front—a fake tech company that's been sucking in investors like crazy, but they have no actual product. It's a scam, Jason."

His eyes flickered with doubt, but he didn't move. "You're sure?"

"Positive." I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "I used to work for a team that researched startups like these. I've seen all the signs before. It's too perfect. They're overselling themselves, making promises that sound too good to be true. And trust me, they are."

He studied me for a long moment, as if trying to gauge whether I was bluffing or not. "And you just happen to know all this?"

"Yes," I said, pushing the file back toward him. If I told you that I use to work in one of the lowest subsidiary in my oaßt life and know about all these you wouldn't believe.

"Look, you can do what you want. But if you put your money into this, you'll lose it all. And fast."

Jason was silent, his jaw clenched as he looked at the file again, considering my words. He rubbed the back of his neck, something he did when he was deep in thought. I could see the gears turning in his head, the careful way he weighed every piece of information before making a decision.

"I'll have my team look into it again," he finally said, his voice softer. "But if you're right…"

"I am right," I interrupted, not giving him a chance to downplay it. "You know I am."

He closed the file and tossed it back onto his desk, exhaling heavily. "Alright, I'll hold off for now. But you'd better be damn sure about this."

I didn't need to argue anymore. I could tell he was already pulling back from the idea of investing, even if his pride wouldn't let him admit it fully.

For a moment, there was silence between us. Awkward.

"Why'd you stay?" he asked, breaking the quiet.

I glanced up at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You were ready to leave just now. You could have. Why did you remain to ask me that question when ou could've just walked out after that little... moment," he said, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. "But you stayed."

I hesitated, biting my lip. Why did I stay? It wasn't like I owed him anything, especially after how he'd been messing with me all day. But part of me felt like I couldn't just leave him to make a mistake, no matter how insufferable he could be.

And maybe some part of me wanted to know how he really felt but he seems to happily want to ignore that part.

"I don't know," I said finally, shrugging. "Maybe because even though you're a pain in the ass, I don't want to see you screw up."

Jason's lips twitched into a small smile, but this time it wasn't the infuriating one he usually wore. This one was softer, more genuine. "Well, aren't you thoughtful."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my own lips. "Don't get used to it."

He chuckled, the sound low and surprising, almost like he wasn't used to laughing around me. Then, he leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms as he studied me.

"You're a hard woman to figure out, Kiara Williams."

"You're not exactly an open book either, Jason Cole."

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Maybe that's why we clash so much."

"Or maybe it's because you're a control freak who enjoys messing with people," I shot back, half-joking, half-serious.

"Maybe. But that's not all there is to me, you know."

I scoffed. "Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it."

For a moment, neither of us spoke, the charged silence settling between us again. But this time, it felt different—not as heavy or suffocating. Just… there.

"Kiara?"

I paused, my hand on the door handle. "Yeah?"

He hesitated, like he was about to say something important, something that would change everything. But then he just shook his head. "Nothing. See you around."