No More Running

Emma's mind was reeling.

Her lips still tingled from the public spectacle Alexander had just created.

The whispers, the gasps, the stunned faces of New York's elite—

All of it faded into the background as she stared at him.

"You—" Her voice caught.

Alexander's fingers brushed against her waist.

Unapologetic.

Possessive.

"Yes?" he murmured.

Emma's pulse spiked.

"You just—kissed me."

"In front of everyone," he agreed.

As if that made it better.

Emma pushed against his chest, stepping back.

"You had no right," she hissed.

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"Then tell me to stop."

Emma's breath caught.

Her body betrayed her.

Because despite every logical thought in her head—

She couldn't say the words.

She couldn't tell him to walk away.

And Alexander knew it.

His lips curved into a knowing smirk.

"That's what I thought," he murmured.

Then, before she could recover, he turned—

Leaving her standing there in the middle of the ballroom.

Heart pounding.

Head spinning.

And worst of all?

Wanting him more than ever.

—

A Night of Consequences

Emma escaped.

She didn't stay to hear the gossip.

Didn't stay to see Victoria's smug face.

Didn't even say goodbye to Ethan—who had witnessed the whole thing.

Instead, she found herself in the back of a cab, gripping her dress like it could somehow hold her together.

Alexander Westwood had changed everything.

And she had no idea what to do next.

—

Uninvited Company

The answer arrived twenty minutes later—

When her apartment door swung open.

Emma barely had time to react before Alexander strode in, his presence filling the space.

She glared.

"How do you keep getting in here?"

He tossed his keys onto the counter.

"I own the building."

Emma's fingers clenched.

"Of course you do."

Alexander's gaze burned into hers.

"You ran."

Emma scoffed. "I didn't run."

He took a step closer.

"You left without a word."

"Because you humiliated me," she snapped.

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"I claimed what's mine."

Emma's breath hitched.

She hated how easily he affected her.

How one sentence could make her heart stumble.

"You can't just decide that," she whispered.

Alexander stepped forward.

Until there was nothing between them.

"Watch me," he murmured.

Emma swallowed.

This was dangerous.

Because Alexander wasn't just fighting for control—

He was winning.

And if she wasn't careful—

She'd let him.

—

The Kiss That Changed Everything

The air between them was thick.

Unspoken tension crackled like a live wire.

Then—Alexander moved.

Slow. Deliberate.

His fingers skimmed her jaw.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured again.

Emma's throat tightened.

This was it.

This was her last chance to walk away.

But instead of pulling back—

She lifted her chin.

A challenge.

A dare.

Alexander's eyes darkened.

And then—

He crushed his lips to hers.

The kiss was everything.

Hot. Unyielding.

Like he was done pretending.

Like he was staking his claim.

Emma's fingers curled into his shirt.

She wasn't sure if she was holding on or pulling him closer.

All she knew was—

She was lost.

Drowning in him.

And this time?

She didn't want to fight it.