Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Lines We Shouldn't Cross

The air inside the city hall meeting room was thick with tension. Journalists, activists, and business moguls filled the space, murmuring among themselves as they waited for the session to begin. This wasn't just another zoning dispute—it had become a battlefield.

Serena adjusted the collar of her navy-blue blazer, keeping her expression neutral even as anticipation coiled inside her. He was here. She could feel it before she even turned to see him.

Elias Carter.

He walked into the room with effortless authority, his tailored charcoal suit fitting him like a second skin. He looked unbothered—as if this was just another meeting, another deal to be won. Their eyes met across the room, and for a fleeting second, something undeniable passed between them.

Damn him.

She tore her gaze away, focusing on the city council chair.

"This meeting is now in session," the woman announced, her voice echoing through the hall. "Miss Hayes, as the representative of the opposition, you may begin."

Serena rose from her seat, her pulse steady but her blood boiling.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't just about a building," she began, her voice clear, impassioned. "It's about preserving the soul of this city. Lincoln Square is a landmark that has stood for over a hundred years—a symbol of resilience, history, and community. Tearing it down for yet another luxury development means erasing a piece of our past for the sake of corporate greed."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. Serena felt the energy shift, the momentum on her side.

But then, Elias stood.

"Greed?" he echoed, his tone smooth, almost amused. "I prefer the term progress."

His voice was rich, controlled, and dangerously persuasive.

"While Miss Hayes makes a passionate argument, passion alone does not sustain a city. Preservation is admirable, but it should never come at the cost of growth. My proposal isn't just about a building—it's about jobs, housing, and economic revitalization. Change is inevitable. The question is, will we resist it, or will we embrace it for the better?"

Applause. And not just from his investors. Some of the neutral attendees nodded in agreement.

Serena clenched her jaw. He was good. Too good.

But she wouldn't lose.

---

The meeting ended in a deadlock, the council deferring a final decision. By the time Serena stepped outside into the cool night air, she was exhausted—but she wasn't alone.

"Not bad," Elias's voice came from behind her.

She turned sharply, glaring. "You think this is a game, don't you?"

His smirk deepened. "Isn't it?"

Serena stepped closer, the heat between them electric. "You don't care about this city. You just want to win."

Elias tilted his head, studying her. "And you?"

She sucked in a breath, caught off guard by the way his voice had softened. The way he was watching her now—not as a rival, but as something more.

Serena hated the way her pulse skipped.

"You don't know me," she whispered.

His gaze dropped—just for a second—to her lips.

"Maybe I'd like to."

The words hung between them, heavy with an unspoken challenge.

For a moment, the city faded around them. There was just the quiet hum of the streetlights, the cool night air, and the undeniable tension between them.

Then, Elias stepped back.

"This isn't over, Serena."

She swallowed hard, watching him disappear into the night.

And for the first time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to win… or if she wanted something else entirely.

To be continued....