BEHIND HIS ICE

chapter five

Chapter Five

Xavier

I don’t lose focus.

That was one of the first lessons my father ever taught me.

Emotions cloud judgment.

Attachment creates weakness.

And weakness destroys powerful men.

For years, I believed him.

Then Eve Adams walked into my life carrying coffee, sarcasm, and absolutely no fear of me whatsoever.

And suddenly…

Focus became impossible.

I stared blankly at the untouched whiskey sitting on the table in my penthouse apartment, the city lights glowing beyond the massive windows.

Normally, silence relaxed me.

Tonight, it irritated me.

Because my mind kept replaying one thing repeatedly.

You defended me.

The surprise in Eve’s voice bothered me more than it should have.

Did she truly think I would allow anyone to disrespect her?

Ridiculous.

I leaned back against the couch, loosening my tie slowly.

This was becoming a problem.

A serious one.

I was noticing things about her now.

Small things.

Dangerous things.

The way she tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear when stressed.

The way her voice softened whenever she spoke about her family.

The exhausted look in her eyes she tried so hard to hide from everyone else.

And worst of all—

The way my entire day shifted the moment she walked into a room.

My phone vibrated against the table.

Mira Laurent.

Again.

I stared at the screen for several seconds before answering.

“You ignored my calls.”

Straight to anger.

Typical.

“I was working.”

“At nine o’clock at night?”

“Yes.”

A frustrated sigh echoed through the line. “Xavier, people are starting to talk.”

I already knew what she meant.

Rumors.

Whispers around the company.

Stories about me and Eve.

The thought should have irritated me.

Instead, I felt strangely protective.

“There’s nothing to discuss,” I said coldly.

“Really?” Mira replied sharply. “Because your assistant seems to be getting very comfortable around you.”

The irritation finally appeared.

“Careful, Mira.”

Silence followed.

She knew that tone.

Everyone did.

But Mira had spent years learning exactly how far she could push me.

“Do you love her?” she asked quietly.

The question hit harder than expected.

I stood slowly from the couch and walked toward the windows overlooking Manhattan.

Love.

I almost laughed at the word.

Men like me didn’t fall in love.

We acquired things. Controlled things. Protected things.

Love implied vulnerability.

And vulnerability was dangerous.

“Goodnight, Mira.”

I ended the call before she could answer.

The apartment fell silent again.

But my chest remained strangely tight.

Because for the first time in years…

I didn’t know the answer to a question.

—

The next morning, Moore Industries felt unusually chaotic.

Employees rushed between departments while assistants whispered nervously.

Another problem.

Another mistake.

Another reason for me to lose patience.

I stepped out of the elevator expecting the usual silence that followed my arrival.

Instead—

Laughter.

Soft laughter.

I frowned immediately.

The sound came from Eve’s office.

Without meaning to, my steps slowed.

The glass walls revealed her sitting beside Xylem Moore, both laughing over something on a laptop screen.

Xylem noticed me first.

“Oh no,” she whispered dramatically. “The Ice King approaches.”

Eve looked up instantly.

And there it was again.

That look in her eyes.

Warmth.

Calm.

Something dangerously soft.

“You’re staring again,” she said casually.

I ignored the comment.

“What are you doing here, Xylem?”

My younger sister grinned unapologetically. “Eating Eve’s snacks.”

“Your snacks,” Eve corrected.

“Sharing is caring.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose slowly.

This was exactly why I avoided mixing family with work.

Xylem adored Eve.

Completely.

Annoyingly.

“She’s nicer than you,” my sister informed me cheerfully.

“I’m aware.”

Eve looked suspiciously amused by that response.

Dangerous woman.

Xylem suddenly stood and grabbed her bag. “Anyway, I’m leaving before Xavier starts emotionally terrorizing innocent civilians.”

“I do not terrorize people.”

Both women stared at me silently.

I exhaled sharply. “Leave my office.”

Xylem laughed while walking away. “See? Terror.”

The second she disappeared, silence settled between me and Eve again.

Different silence this time.

Softer.

She returned her attention to her laptop while speaking quietly.

“You’re in a bad mood.”

“You say that every day.”

“Because every day you look one inconvenience away from committing tax fraud.”

I stared at her.

She stared back innocently.

Then suddenly smiled.

God.

That smile was becoming a serious issue.

“You’re distracted today,” she observed carefully.

I walked closer slowly. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

“By what?”

The question came out lower than intended.

More personal.

Eve’s fingers paused against the keyboard.

For the first time since I’d met her…

She looked nervous around me.

Interesting.

Her gaze lifted carefully toward mine.

And for one dangerous second, neither of us looked away.

The tension between us shifted instantly.

Heavier.

Warmer.

Awareness flickered across her face before she stood abruptly.

“I need coffee.”

Coward.

The thought almost made me smile.

She moved past me quickly toward the office door—

Then suddenly froze.

I followed her line of sight immediately.

Mira stood outside the office entrance.

Elegant. Perfectly dressed. Furious.

And beside her, half the executive floor pretended not to watch the disaster unfolding.

Mira’s eyes landed directly on Eve.

Cold.

Sharp.

Threatening.

Then slowly…

She smiled.

“I was hoping to meet the assistant everyone seems so fascinated with.”