Chapter 4: Lines That Blur

The next morning, Mia arrived at work determined to put the previous night behind her. But the moment she stepped into the office, she felt the weight of Adrian's presence. He was already in his glass-walled office, his sharp eyes locked on her as if he had been waiting.

She ignored the way her pulse quickened and made her way to her desk. She needed to focus. Adrian Blackwood was her boss, nothing more. Last night had been a moment of weakness—one that couldn't happen again.

But fate had other plans.

An hour later, she was called into a board meeting, and to her horror, the only available seat was right beside Adrian. She hesitated for half a second before taking her place. As the meeting went on, she could feel his gaze on her, burning, tempting.

When the meeting finally ended, Adrian leaned in, his voice low. "Stay."

Mia's breath caught, but she kept her expression neutral. One by one, the other executives filtered out of the room, until it was just the two of them. Adrian turned to face her fully, his gaze dark and unreadable.

"We need to talk," he said.

Mia squared her shoulders. "About work, I hope."

His lips twitched, but he didn't smile. "You know that's not what I mean."

She let out a breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Adrian, we both agreed—"

"I never agreed." His voice was smooth, controlled, but there was something dangerous in his eyes. "You said it was a mistake. I never said I regretted it."

Mia's heart pounded. "This isn't professional."

Adrian smirked. "Neither was last night."

She opened her mouth to argue, but he reached out, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. His touch was light, but it sent a shiver through her.

"I told myself I wouldn't do this," he murmured. "I don't get involved with my employees."

Mia swallowed hard. "Then don't."

His gaze dropped to her lips. "Tell me you don't want this."

She hesitated for a fraction of a second—too long.

Adrian chuckled, a deep, knowing sound. "That's what I thought."

Before she could respond, he stood, straightening his tie. "I'll see you at the gala tonight."

Mia blinked. "The… gala?"

His smirk deepened. "Didn't I mention? You're coming as my date."

Her heart stopped. "I—"

"Seven sharp. Don't be late."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving Mia sitting there, breathless and completely unprepared for what was coming next.

The rest of the day dragged on in a blur. Mia could hardly concentrate, her thoughts consumed by Adrian's words. She tried to convince herself that this was just another power move—an extension of whatever twisted game he was playing—but deep down, she knew it was more than that.

By the time she arrived home, she was exhausted, but there was no time to rest. The gala was a high-profile event, and if she was going to attend as Adrian Blackwood's date, she needed to look the part.

Emily, who had practically sprinted over the moment Mia told her about the gala, was rummaging through her closet. "This is insane," she gushed, pulling out a sleek black dress. "You realize what this means, right?"

Mia crossed her arms. "It means I'm going as his employee, nothing more."

Emily scoffed. "Oh, please. You don't go to a gala with Adrian Blackwood and expect it to be just business. The man is a walking scandal. And the way he looks at you? Yeah, it's definitely not just business."

Mia sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know what he wants."

Emily handed her the dress. "Well, maybe you should find out."

By the time Mia arrived at the gala, she felt like she had stepped into another world. The venue was dazzling—crystal chandeliers, gold-trimmed décor, and a sea of elegantly dressed elites.

And then there was Adrian.

He stood near the entrance, impossibly handsome in a tailored black tuxedo, his presence commanding attention. The moment he spotted her, his gaze darkened, and a slow smirk curved his lips.

"You clean up well," he murmured, offering his arm.

Mia hesitated for only a second before taking it, trying to ignore the way her skin tingled at the contact. "Let's just get this over with."

Adrian chuckled. "Oh, Mia. The night is just getting started."