Chapter Seven

Scarlett couldn't shake the feeling of Elias's lips against hers, the way his touch lingered long after he'd pulled away. It was as if his kiss had branded her, marking her in ways she hadn't expected. And the longer she stayed in his presence, the more she felt herself collapsing bit by bit, piece by piece.

The days following that night had been a blur. Elias had kept his distance in the public eye, though his presence lingered in every moment they shared. The brief text messages. The subtle glances when they saw each other at social events. He was always there, a constant force, pulling her toward him without saying a word.

But the walls she had carefully built around herself, the boundaries she had established for years, were slowly beginning to collapse. Elias Monroe wasn't just some billionaire playboy. He was an enigma one she couldn't quite figure out but found herself wanting to understand.

It was a dangerous game she was playing, one she couldn't quite stop. And the more she resisted, the more her body betrayed her.

Tonight, as the golden light of the setting sun filtered through her apartment windows, Scarlett felt the familiar stir of tension building inside her. She had tried to keep herself busy, to keep her thoughts occupied with work, with anything that would distract her from the man who had started to consume her thoughts. But nothing seemed to work.

Her phone buzzed across the counter, and Scarlett's heart skipped a beat when she saw the name on the screen: Elias.

"Dinner. 8 PM. Be ready." The message was short, direct, and commanding.

Her stomach fluttered despite her best efforts to stay calm. Scarlett had tried to ignore him, to push back against the pull he had on her, but each encounter only seemed to make it stronger. She had to admit she wasn't as unaffected as she had convinced herself she was.

She sighed, her reflection in the mirror mocking her as she tried to calm her racing heart. This is a bad idea. You know it is.

But she couldn't help herself. She stood in front of the mirror, her reflection offering no solace, only the growing realization that she was falling deeper into a world she wasn't sure she was ready for.

By the time she arrived at Elias's penthouse, her nerves were a bundle of tension. She had tried to keep herself composed, but something about being in his presence made her lose all sense of control.

When Elias opened the door, he was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his hair slightly tousled as though he had just run his hands through it. The sight of him made Scarlett's breath catch in her throat.

"You look... beautiful," he said, his eyes scanning her from head to toe with an intensity that made her pulse race. She was wearing a deep red dress that hugged her curves, and she could feel the weight of his gaze as if it were a physical touch.

"Thanks," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "You clean up well yourself."

Elias smiled, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Come in. Dinner's ready."

Scarlett stepped into the dimly lit foyer, the scent of something delicious wafting toward her. But as soon as she crossed the threshold, the tension between them felt palpable thick and undeniable.

She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep pretending she wasn't affected by him, by this entire situation. The way his gaze lingered on her, the way his touch made her heart race. He had a way of disarming her that no one else had ever been able to do.

Dinner passed in a blur. They exchanged polite conversation, but the undercurrent of desire was always there silent, heavy, waiting to erupt.

Finally, as they sat in the living room after their meal, Elias leaned closer, his knee brushing hers. Scarlett's breath hitched at the sudden proximity, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Scarlett," Elias said softly, his voice low, almost too intimate. "You're not fooling anyone."

She met his gaze, and for a brief moment, she saw something something raw and unguarded in his eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You want me. You've wanted me from the moment we met," Elias said, his tone more certain than ever. He reached for her hand, gently cupping it in his. "And I can't pretend I don't feel the same way."

Scarlett's breath caught in her throat. She had never wanted to admit it, but there was no denying it now. She did want him. Every fiber of her being screamed for it, but she couldn't give in not like this.

"I don't know what you want from me, Elias," she whispered, pulling her hand away from his, though her heart told her not to. "I can't just...."

"You can," Elias interrupted, his voice a little rough. He moved closer, closing the distance between them. "You just need to let go."

And before she could protest, he kissed her again, this time with a force that left no room for hesitation. Scarlett's mind went blank as her body responded to him, her hands fisting his shirt as she melted into the kiss. Everything else the doubts, the fears faded away, leaving only the undeniable chemistry between them.

When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Elias rested his forehead against hers, his breath ragged. "You're mine now, Scarlett. No turning back."

The words sent a chill down her spine, but as the silence stretched on, Scarlett realized she wasn't sure if she wanted to turn back anymore.