Forbidden Chemistry

MidnightPromisesandMangoes

"Thomas!" She hissed under her breath as soon as Julian was out of earshot. " He is an investor! You can't just intimidate every man who tries to give me a friendly hug!"

Thomas turned around slowly, completely unbothered by her scolding. He stepped toward her, ignoring the two-foot rule for a brief, electric second as he leaned down until his face was inches from hers.

" I told you, Jen," Thomas growled softly, his dark eyes burning with a fierce, possessive flame that sent a wave of heat straight to her core. " I can tolerate you making me work for your forgiveness. But another man putting his hands on you? That is where my patience ends."

Jen's breath caught in her throat. His proximity was dizzying, his scent-expensive sandalwood and warm skin wrapping around her like a physical pull. She wanted to push him away, to prove that she was hard to get, but the sheer, raw intensity of his devotion was making her knees go weak.

She placed her hand flat against his chest, feeling the heavy, rapid thud of his heart beneath his crisp shirt.

"You're impossible," Jen whispered, trying to sound firm, though her voice lacked any real bite.

" I'm determined," Thomas countered, his voice softening as he looked down at her lips, then back up to her eyes. He didn't force a kiss; instead, he raised his hand, his long fingers gently tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear, his thumb lightly grazing her cheekbone with unbelievable tenderness. " I'm going to win you back, Jen. Every single piece of your heart."

He stepped back, opening the conference room door for her with refined, gentlemanly grace, holding himself under tight control.

Jen took a deep breath, smoothing down her skirt as she walked past him into the room. Her heart was racing like a wild bird trapped in a cage. She knew she had to keep her guard up, for her own protection and for Gioia's .... But as she glanced back at the powerful billionaire watching her every move with fierce, undeniable love, she realized resisting Thomas Bolduc was going to be the hardest war she had ever fought.

The morning sun filleted through the floor-to-ceiling glass panels of the penthouse executive suite, washing the polished hardwood floors in a warm, honey-colored light. Inside, quite the tension was thick with a delicious, unspoken tug of war.

Jen stood on the marble island inside her new corner office, filling two porcelain cups with freshly brewed coffee. She wore a tailored ivory blazer and high-waisted trousers, her dark hairstyling a sleek, professional ponytail. Every movement she made was calm, deliberate, and composed.

She had made her boundaries crystal clear: brick by brick.

Even though Thomas owned the resort and lived in the sprawling master villa, Jen still chose to go home with her every single night. The modest, rented coastal bungalow down the shore — the cozy two-bedroom house she shared with five-year-old Gioia.

She refused to move into his luxury estate or spend the night at the penthouse. She needed her own space to protect her heart. Five years of single motherhood had forged unshakable independence in her; she wasn't going to collapse into his arms just because he looked devastatingly handsome in a three-piece suit.

Behind her, the quiet, measured footsteps signaled Thomas's approach.

He didn't say a word, yet his broad, imposing frame created a subtle shift in the air. He stood close enough that the radiating heat of his body warmed her back, his signature scent of dark sandalwood and sea breeze instantly wrapping around her senses.

"Good morning, Miss Delos Santos," Thomas murmured, his gravelly baritone dropping low right. Ear her ear.

Jen didn't flinch. She picked up her mug, turning slowly to face him with a cool, perfectly professional smile. " Good morning, President Bolduc,"

Thomas leaned one arm against the counter, loosely boxing her in without actually making physical contact — respecting her space, yet completely dominating her atmosphere. He wore a crisp, unbuttoned navy shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, displaying his broad shoulders and effortless authority.

"The driver delivered fresh sweet mangoes from Guimaras to your bungalow this morning," Thomas noted softly, his dark eyes tracing the curve of her jaw. " Gioia mentioned on the phone yesterday that she wanted some."

Jen's heart did a traitorous, fluttering somersault, but she took a small step sideways against the counter to keep her distance. " Thank you, Thomas." But you don't need to send gourmet fruits to my house to earn points with me,"

A faint, breathtaking smirk touched the corner of Thomas's lips. "I am not looking for points, Jen. I am taking care of my daughter. And as for you...." he reached out, his long fingered carefully avoiding her skin as he picked up his coffee cup, his knuckles brushing her wrist for a fleeting fraction of a second. " I already know winning you back is going to take everything I have."

Jen swallowed down the sudden lump in her throat, taking a hasty step around the island. " We have the executive board review at ten. Let's keep our minds on business."

" Whatever you say, Co-Head," Thomas replied smoothly, taking a slow sip of his coffee, his intense, burning gaze tracking her every move.

The Power Play in the Boardroom

At ten o'clock, the resort's primary boardroom was filled with senior department heads and regional investors. As Jen presented the proposed eco-sustainability budget for Solaria Bay, she commanded the room with brilliant, effortless authority.

Yet, no matter how engaging her presentation was, she could feel one specific pair of eyes burning into her the entire time.

Thomas sat at the head of the long mahogany table, silent, powerful, and utterly captivated. He didn't interrupt her once. He didn't patronize her. Whenever an older board member tried to question her figures, Thomas simply tilted his head, shooting the director a cold, warning look that instantly silenced any opposition.

When the two-hour meeting finally adjourned, the executives filed out, leaving only the two of them in the vast, quiet boardroom.

Jen began gathering her tablet and folders from the podium. As she reached for her water glass, her hand accidentally slipped, spilling cold water all over her documents and down the front of her white blazer.

" Shoot," Jen muttered, stepping back quickly.

Before she could grab a napkin. Thomas was already there.

He moved with startling speed, standing right beside her. Without asking, he unbuttoned his own dark suit jacket, slipped it off his broad shoulders, and gently draped it around her shivering frame. The heavy, warm fabric immediately enveloped her, carrying his intoxicating warmth and scent.

" Thomas, I'm fine, it's just water," Jen began, trying to pull the heavy jacket off.

" Keep it on," Thomas commanded softly, his hands coming up to rest over her shoulders, gently pressing the lapels of his jacket against her chest. He leaned down until his face was inches from hers, his dark brown eyes soft, dark, and overwhelmingly tender. " It's cold here. And you're wearing thin silk."

Jen's breath caught in her chest. Being wrapped in his jacket felt dangerously intimate — like being wrapped in his arms. The sheer longing of his quiet, instinctive care made her knees feel weak.

She looked up at his handsome face, trying her best to stay hard. " You're abusing your executive privileges, Mr. Bolduc."

" If caring for you is an abuse of privilege, then I'll gladly take the penalty," Thomas rasped softly, his thumb gently brushing a stray lock of dark hair away from her face, his fingers lingering on her warm skin for just a moment before he disciplined himself to step back. " Now let me help you carry those files."

End of Chapter 13