An Impossible Choice

Emma stared at Alexander like he'd just suggested she jump off a cliff.

"Move in with you?" she repeated.

Alexander stood perfectly still, watching her.

Like a predator waiting for its prey to make a move.

"You can't stay here," he said again, voice smooth, controlled. "It's not safe."

Emma laughed, but there was no humor in it.

"Oh, and living with you is?"

His jaw tightened.

"Safer than this."

Emma crossed her arms, ignoring the way her pulse pounded.

"And what happens after? When the headlines die down? Do I just pack up and leave?"

Alexander's eyes darkened.

"You could," he murmured.

Something flickered in his gaze—something dangerous.

"But we both know you won't."

Emma's breath caught.

She should say no.

She had to say no.

But instead—

She hesitated.

And that?

That was already a mistake.

—

The Offer She Couldn't Refuse

Alexander's driver arrived twenty minutes later.

Emma stood in her apartment, staring at the single suitcase she had packed.

This was temporary, she reminded herself.

Just until the media storm died down.

Then she'd go back to her life.

Her normal, quiet life.

She repeated the thought over and over—

But deep down, she already knew.

Nothing about this was temporary.

And nothing about this was normal.

—

Welcome to His World

Alexander's penthouse was exactly what she had expected—

Cold.

Luxurious.

And entirely too big for one man.

She stood in the entryway, taking it in.

Floor-to-ceiling windows.

Dark marble floors.

Minimalist furniture in deep, masculine tones.

The kind of place that screamed power.

The kind of place that didn't feel like a home.

Alexander watched her from the doorway.

"Well?" he asked.

Emma lifted a brow. "Not very inviting, is it?"

His lips twitched.

"I don't invite people here."

Emma rolled her eyes.

"Shocking."

Alexander smirked.

Then—

He took a step closer.

And just like that, the room felt smaller.

"You're the first," he murmured.

Emma's pulse skipped.

"The first what?"

"The first person to ever live here."

Her breath caught.

And suddenly—

This wasn't just about safety anymore.

It was about something else.

Something far more dangerous.

Because for the first time—

Alexander wasn't just letting her into his home.

He was letting her into his world.

—

Unspoken Tensions

The first night in the penthouse was uneasy.

Emma had expected tension.

She hadn't expected silence.

Alexander gave her a guest room—

A massive space, bigger than her entire apartment.

But he didn't linger.

He didn't try to convince her to stay with him.

He just… left.

And somehow—

That unsettled her more than anything.

—

A Midnight Encounter

Emma couldn't sleep.

The penthouse was too quiet.

Too empty.

She tossed and turned for hours before finally giving up.

Slipping out of bed, she padded barefoot through the darkened halls.

The city skyline stretched beyond the windows—

A sea of lights against the night.

Then—

She heard it.

A low voice.

Deep.

Rough.

Alexander.

She followed the sound, stopping just before she reached his office.

The door was slightly ajar.

And inside—

Alexander stood, back to her, phone pressed to his ear.

His posture was tense.

His voice was quietly lethal.

"No. That's not an option."

A pause.

His fingers curled into a tight fist.

"Fix it."

Another pause.

Then—

He ended the call.

Emma swallowed.

She should leave.

She should turn around before he saw her.

But before she could—

Alexander spoke.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Emma's heart jumped.

He hadn't even turned around.

She took a breath, stepping into the room.

"I—" She hesitated. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Finally, Alexander faced her.

His gaze locked onto hers.

"You're awake at two in the morning," he murmured. "That doesn't happen for no reason."

Emma crossed her arms. "I could say the same about you."

Alexander smirked.

But there was something dangerous behind it.

Something unreadable.

"Touché."

Emma's stomach twisted.

Everything about him was a mystery.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure she wanted to solve him—

Or get lost in him completely.

—

An Unavoidable Truth

Alexander didn't move.

Didn't step closer.

Didn't try to touch her.

But somehow—

She still felt like she was standing on the edge of something dangerous.

Something she couldn't come back from.

Emma swallowed.

"I should go back to bed."

Alexander tilted his head.

"Is that what you want?"

Emma's pulse skipped.

"That's what I should do."

A long, charged silence.

Then—

Alexander's lips curved.

"Then go."

Emma's fingers curled into fists.

He was taunting her.

She could hear it in his voice.

Feel it in the space between them.

And it infuriated her how much she wanted to stay.

So instead—

She turned on her heel and walked away.

Back to the guest room.

Back to safety.

But as she lay awake in bed—

Heart pounding, mind racing—

She knew one thing for certain.

Safety had never felt so suffocating.