chapter nine
987 Words
Chapter Nine
Xavier
I was losing control.
Not of my company.
Not of my reputation.
Of myself.
And the worst part?
Eve Adams had absolutely no idea what she was doing to me.
I watched her from across my office while she reviewed leaked company documents at my desk, completely focused, completely unaware of the dangerous thoughts currently destroying my concentration.
This was exactly why emotional attachment was reckless.
Because suddenly, every small thing about her became distracting.
The way she tucked her hair behind her ear while reading.
The soft crease between her brows whenever she concentrated.
The quiet little sigh she made when frustrated.
Normal details.
Except nothing about Eve felt normal to me anymore.
“You’re staring again,” she said without looking up.
Interesting.
“How do you always know?”
Now she looked at me.
And unfortunately, that was worse.
“Because,” she replied calmly, “normal bosses blink occasionally.”
I almost smiled.
Almost.
“You’re becoming very comfortable insulting me.”
“You’re becoming very comfortable listening to it.”
Fair point.
The realization irritated me more than it should have.
Because she was right.
I tolerated things from Eve that I would never accept from anyone else.
Actually, tolerated wasn’t the correct word.
Enjoyed was closer.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
She stood suddenly and walked toward the massive evidence board security had prepared earlier that morning.
Names. Documents. Access records.
Someone inside Moore Industries was leaking confidential information.
And judging from the pattern…
This had been happening for months.
“You trust too many people,” Eve said quietly.
I leaned back against my chair slowly. “I trust almost nobody.”
“That’s the problem.”
My eyes narrowed slightly.
She pointed toward the board. “You expect betrayal from obvious enemies, so you ignore people pretending to be loyal.”
Interesting observation.
“And you figured that out already?”
“I grew up around survival,” she answered softly. “People reveal themselves when money becomes important.”
The statement carried personal experience.
Pain.
I studied her carefully.
“You’ve been betrayed before.”
Silence.
Eve looked away first.
Which confirmed everything.
Before I could respond, someone knocked sharply on my office door.
“Enter.”
The door opened to reveal Mira Laurent.
And immediately, the atmosphere changed.
Eve straightened slightly.
Mira smiled too perfectly.
And irritation settled heavily into my chest.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Mira said smoothly.
“You are,” Eve muttered quietly.
Unfortunately, both of us heard her.
A dangerous glint appeared in Mira’s eyes.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
“I actually came to discuss the gala this weekend,” Mira continued while walking toward me confidently. “You promised we’d attend together.”
The charity gala.
Right.
I had completely forgotten.
Eve immediately turned back toward the files like she suddenly found paperwork emotionally fascinating.
Coward.
“I remember,” I answered coldly.
Mira’s gaze shifted briefly toward Eve again.
“You’ll attend too, of course,” she said sweetly.
Eve blinked. “Excuse me?”
“The entire executive team is invited.”
“No, thank you.”
Mira smiled wider. “That wasn’t a request.”
I watched Eve carefully.
Most people became intimidated around Mira’s social dominance.
Eve simply looked annoyed.
“I don’t own a dress for billionaire gatherings,” she replied flatly.
“I’ll buy you one,” Mira offered immediately.
Absolutely not.
The refusal rose inside me instantly before I could stop it.
Eve opened her mouth to decline again—
“I’ll handle it,” I interrupted calmly.
Both women looked toward me.
Mira’s expression hardened slightly.
Eve looked confused.
Interesting reaction.
“You don’t need to—” Eve started.
“You’re attending,” I said firmly.
“That sounds less like an invitation and more like kidnapping.”
A faint smile almost appeared on my face.
Mira noticed.
And suddenly the room became colder.
Because now she saw it too.
The difference.
The version of me that only appeared around Eve.
Her gaze sharpened instantly.
“You seem very invested in your assistant lately,” she observed carefully.
Silence.
Eve looked uncomfortable immediately.
I felt angry.
At Mira.
At myself.
At the fact this situation existed at all.
“Mira,” I said quietly, “be careful.”
Warning tone.
The same one that made executives nervous during meetings.
But Mira only crossed her arms.
“No,” she replied softly. “I think it’s time someone finally says what everyone else is already whispering.”
The tension snapped tight.
Eve stepped backward slightly. “I should leave.”
“No,” Mira said smoothly while still looking directly at me. “Stay.”
I stood slowly from my chair.
The room instantly felt smaller.
More dangerous.
“Mira.”
“Tell me I’m wrong,” she challenged quietly.
Silence.
Because I couldn’t.
Not completely.
And we all knew it.
Eve looked between us carefully before inhaling softly.
Then finally—
“This is inappropriate.”
Her voice cut through the tension immediately.
Professional. Calm. Controlled.
Exactly unlike the chaos currently inside my head.
Eve grabbed her tablet from the desk before meeting my eyes briefly.
And somehow…
Disappointment flickered across her face.
That expression hit harder than it should have.
“I’ll organize the security reports,” she said quietly.
Then she walked out.
The second the office door closed behind her, silence exploded between me and Mira.
Cold silence.
“You’re emotionally attached to her,” Mira said immediately.
“No.”
Lie.
A dangerous one.
Mira laughed softly without humor. “Xavier, you looked at that woman like she already belongs to you.”
The statement sent something dark and possessive through me.
Mine.
The thought arrived instantly.
Violently.
And that alone should have terrified me.
Because men like me did not fall gently.
We consumed completely.
- Writer
