Nova_Everly

Emma Carter has spent years building her consulting empire, proving she doesn’t need anyone—especially arrogant, entitled men like Alex Kingston. Smart, ruthless, and fiercely independent, she’s always played to win.

Alex Kingston is a business shark—rich, charming, and impossible to outmaneuver. He thrives on competition and never backs down from a challenge. So when a billion-dollar deal forces them to work together, their rivalry ignites into an all-out war.

But as the battle intensifies, so does the undeniable attraction simmering beneath their fights. Enemies turn to reluctant allies, then something more dangerous—something neither of them is ready to face.

In a city where power is everything, will they fight for dominance… or surrender to a love that could ruin them both?

Against the Odds: A Love Rewritten

Emma wasn't sure how long she stood there, caught in the heavy silence between them. The city hummed in the background—cars moving, people laughing, life continuing as if the moment between her and Alex didn't exist.

It existed in the way her breath felt too shallow. In the way Alex's eyes darkened just slightly, waiting for something she wasn't sure she could give.

His words echoed in her mind, a quiet challenge she wasn't sure how to answer.

Instead, she held his gaze, refusing to be the first to break. "You think you have me figured out, don't you?"

Alex smirked, his voice smooth. "Not yet."

Emma tilted her head slightly. "Then why does it feel like you're trying to win something?"

His eyes flickered, something unreadable crossing his face. "Maybe I am."

Emma exhaled, shaking her head. "I don't play games, Kingston."

"I know," he said, his voice quieter now. "That's what makes this interesting."

She hated the way her heart reacted to his words. The way her pulse quickened, the way she felt something shift inside her, something she didn't want to name.

She had spent years building herself into someone untouchable. Someone who couldn't be swayed by charming smiles or reckless men who thought they could change her mind.

Because he wasn't asking for her walls to come down.

He was just standing there, waiting.

And for some reason, that was more dangerous than anything else.

The moment broke when Emma's phone buzzed in her hand.

She blinked, glancing down at the screen. A message from one of her senior staff. Something about the upcoming deal—something that should've been important.

But for the first time, she couldn't focus.

She turned back to Alex, finding him watching her carefully.

"You should get that," he murmured.

Then, with a sharp inhale, she stepped back, creating space between them.

She ignored the way Alex's jaw tensed slightly at the distance.

Whatever this was—it wasn't happening. It couldn't happen.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Leaving Alex standing alone on the balcony, his expression unreadable.

Chapter 11: A Dangerous Pull