Distractions We Can’t Afford
1135 Words
The private jet hummed with quiet luxury, but Lena Cole felt anything but calm.
Opposite her, Nico Wolfe looked like sin in a suit, dark, tailored perfection, his long fingers scrolling effortlessly through a report like they weren’t sitting in the sky with six hours of forced proximity ahead.
Lena kept her expression neutral, though her insides twisted with the leftover tension from their almost-kiss in the suite the night before.
They hadn’t spoken about it. Neither had crossed that line again.
But it lingered in the air. Thick. Taut.
And maddening.
“So,” Nico finally said, without looking up, “you’re actually impressive when you’re not actively trying to piss me off.”
Lena arched a brow. “Is that your version of a compliment?”
His lips twitched, the barest smirk. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“You should try giving one without sounding like a threat.”
He leaned back in the leather seat, fingers steepled. “I don’t do flattery. It makes people lazy.”
“You mean it threatens your control.”
That earned her a long, unreadable look. “Is that what you think this is? About control?”
“I think you like to win,” she said evenly, “and you hate that I’m not scared of you.”
Silence stretched. His gaze didn’t move from her.
Then “You’re not scared of me, Lena?”
A whisper of a challenge.
“No,” she said, even as her pulse betrayed her. “I’m not.”
Their eyes locked, and the air thickened again, dangerously so.
Just then, the door slid open. Lena nearly jumped. A tall, honey-skinned woman strolled in, heels clicking softly on the marble floor.
“Nico. You forgot your tablet,” the woman said, placing it on the table with practiced ease.
Lena’s brows lifted slightly. The woman was effortlessly chic, in a designer pantsuit, glossy hair twisted into a sleek knot.
“And you are?” Lena asked, tone polite but edged.
The woman smiled. “Sophie Wolfe. His sister.”
Nico didn’t look pleased.
“I was in Milan,” Sophie continued, sliding into the seat beside him. “Thought I’d crash this boring trip before it turns into another PR disaster.”
“Not now, Sophie,” Nico muttered.
“Oh, relax. I’m just here to observe,” she said, then turned to Lena. “You must be the marketing genius.”
Lena smiled tightly. “Guilty.”
“Good,” Sophie said, eyes sharp. “Because this campaign better be worth all the noise. Nico doesn’t usually let outsiders this close.”
“I’m not here to make friends,” Lena replied. “Just to do my job.”
Sophie let out a low laugh. “Careful. That’s how I started in this family.”
Nico stood abruptly. “Excuse us.”
He walked to the back of the jet, and Lena followed, aware of Sophie’s curious gaze trailing after her.
Once the door clicked shut behind them, Lena crossed her arms. “Is this where you scold me for not playing nice?”
“No,” Nico said. “Sophie likes to stir things up. She’s just testing you.”
“And you?” she asked softly. “What are you testing me for?”
He stepped closer, something dark flickering in his eyes. “I don’t trust easily, Lena. Especially not with my company.”
“This is business,” she said, trying to steady herself.
He stared at her for a long second. “Is it still just business for you?”
The air snapped between them again, like a wire pulled too tight.
Before she could answer, her phone buzzed. A message from her best friend, Arlo.
“Board meeting moved to Tuesday. Also, your face is everywhere. The Wolfe campaign is exploding.”
She looked up. “Seems the campaign’s already making headlines.”
Nico smirked. “Of course it is. We don’t play small.”
A second message buzzed through.
Arlo: “You should probably know… that guy from Cole & Wyatt? The one who ghosted you? He’s pitching against you next quarter.”
Lena’s stomach dipped. She hadn’t thought about Jason Wyatt in months—her ex, her old boss, and the man who once told her she’d never make it without him.
She shoved the phone into her coat pocket.
Nico noticed. “Something wrong?”
“No,” she lied. “Just a distraction I don’t need.”
“Then don’t let it get in your head,” he said. “We’re presenting to investors in forty-eight hours. I need your focus.”
His tone had snapped back to clipped CEO mode, and for a second, Lena hated how easily he could shut it all down.
But she wasn’t about to let some ghost from her past ruin what she was building now.
Especially not in front of Nico Wolfe.
They landed in Zurich just after sunset. Cameras waited. Security flanked the runway.
Nico didn’t hold her hand. He didn’t offer her a glance, As they stepped onto the tarmac and walked into the press storm together, Lena felt his presence beside her like static electricity beside her.
He didn’t need to touch her.
He already had her off balance.
They arrived at the hotel later than expected ten floors up, floor-to-ceiling windows, and only one presidential suite reserved.
Again.
Lena stood frozen at the entrance.
Nico didn’t flinch. “Sophie arranged the booking. She thinks sharing space builds trust.”
“She’s hilarious,” Lena muttered.
He shrugged. “We’re professionals. Unless that’s suddenly changed.”
Her jaw tensed. “Of course not.”
They walked inside. Two rooms, one shared lounge, one large bath. Tension thrummed.
She tossed her coat on the chair and headed for her room. “I’ll update you on the presentation draft in an hour.”
“Lena.”
She paused.
He was watching her, face unreadable. “You don’t need to prove anything to me.”
She blinked. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” he said quietly. “You’ve been doing it since the day you walked into that boardroom.”
“And you’ve been fighting me since that same day.”
He didn’t deny it. “Because I didn’t want to want you.”
Silence crashed between them.
“What?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
“You heard me.”
She couldn’t move. Could barely breathe.
“And now?” she asked, voice breaking.
He looked at her like it hurt. “Now I’m losing.”
And with that, he turned, walking into his room, shutting the door behind him
Leaving Lena standing there, her heart a chaotic mess in her chest.
- Writer
