Unfinished Business

Ash's POVAfter my conversation with Harper, the weight of the situation sticks with me the rest of the day. Every decision I've made to build this empire—every deal, every calculated risk—now feels like it's on the line because of one person. Because of Zane.I've always been in control. That's my edge. But this thing with Zane? It's not something I can wrap up neatly and manage. It's unpredictable, volatile, and so damn complicated.As the office clears out for the day, I find myself standing at the window, watching the city hum below me. It's late, but the lights never go off out there. People are still living their lives, making choices, doing whatever it takes to get through the night.I hear the sound of the door to my office creak open behind me, and for a second, my pulse kicks up, thinking it's Zane. But when I turn, it's Emily, my assistant."Still here?" I ask, arching a brow.She gives me a tight smile, holding up a few documents. "Just need you to sign these before I leave."I take them from her, flipping through the papers without much thought. My mind is still buzzing from the conversation with Harper, from everything that's been brewing with Zane. The way Emily watches me as I scribble my signature on the last page makes it clear she's noticing something's off."Everything okay, Ash?" she asks carefully. "You seem... distracted lately."I set the papers down, giving her a look. "I'm fine. Just a lot going on.""Right," she says, not quite convinced but smart enough not to push. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."I nod, dismissing her, and once she's gone, the office falls back into its usual silence. But my thoughts are anything but quiet.What the hell am I doing?It hits me all over again—the risk I'm taking with Zane. Not just professionally, but personally. I've kept people at a distance for a reason. Getting too close is dangerous, for them and for me. But Zane's already too close.I sit down at my desk, the glow of the city behind me, and reach for my phone. Without thinking, I pull up Zane's number. There's no point in pretending anymore. I need to see him. To figure this out, before it gets even more out of hand.But before I can hit call, the door to my office opens again, and this time, it is Zane.Zane's POVWalking into Ash's office unannounced feels like a gamble, but then again, so is everything I've been doing lately.I stand there, waiting for him to react. The tension between us has been simmering for days, and I can't handle it anymore. I need clarity. I need to know what the hell is happening.Ash looks up from his desk, surprised, but his face quickly settles into that unreadable mask he's so good at wearing. He says nothing, just leans back in his chair, watching me, his eyes sharp."What are you doing here, Zane?" he asks, voice steady, but I can hear the edge beneath it. He's been avoiding this, avoiding me.I take a breath, forcing myself to stand my ground. "We need to talk."He lets out a small sigh, like he's been expecting this but dreading it at the same time. "Yeah," he says, his voice softer now. "I guess we do."I walk over to the couch by the window, feeling too restless to sit in front of him like we're having some kind of business meeting. Ash stands up and crosses the room, stopping just a few feet away from me. The distance feels... intentional.For a long moment, neither of us says anything. The tension between us hangs in the air, thick and charged. My heart pounds, my pulse loud in my ears, and I hate how much power this man has over me."What are we doing, Ash?" I finally ask, my voice a little unsteady. "Because I can't... I can't keep doing this. I need to know where I stand."He looks at me, his expression hardening. "You're my employee, Zane. That's where you stand."I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Right. Just your employee. That's what that kiss was about, then? Just some professional courtesy?"Ash runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "You don't get it. It's not that simple.""Then explain it to me," I say, stepping closer to him. "Because I'm not some game you get to play, Ash. I'm not just going to sit around waiting for you to make up your mind while you keep pulling me in and pushing me away."He stays silent, his jaw tight, and for a second, I think he's just going to shut me out again. But then, something shifts in his expression."It's not about what I want," he says quietly. "It's about what I can't have. This—us—it's dangerous, Zane. More dangerous than you realize. I've built everything I have by keeping things under control, by not letting anyone get too close. You think you want this, but you don't know what you're getting into.""I'm not scared," I snap, frustration boiling over. "I know what I'm getting into, Ash. I'm standing right here, aren't I?"He looks at me, eyes intense, and for a second, I swear I see something break in his expression. He takes a step forward, closing the distance between us."And that's the problem," he says, his voice low. "You should be scared. You should be running in the other direction. Because once I let you in, I'm not letting you go."His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and before I can even process them, he's kissing me.This time, there's no hesitation, no second-guessing. His hands are on me, pulling me closer, and everything we've been avoiding comes crashing down. The kiss is rough, almost desperate, like we're both trying to drown out the world and everything that's been keeping us apart.I grab the back of his neck, pressing into him, and for a moment, it feels like nothing else matters. Just him and me, and the fire that's been building between us finally burning free.When we finally pull apart, both of us are breathing hard, the tension between us still crackling in the air."This isn't over," I say, my voice hoarse. "You don't get to just push me away whenever it gets hard."Ash looks at me, his eyes dark, and he nods once, almost reluctantly. "I know."We stand there, the silence heavy between us. There's so much still unsaid, but for now, this is enough. We'll figure the rest out later.