His Tycoon Obsession: Claimed by Power

Chapter Four — Unmasking the Truth

Lydia couldn’t concentrate. The moment Xavier walked out of that conference room, his words continued to echo in her mind like an unrelenting storm. She should have left, should have walked out and never looked back. But she couldn’t deny it—the pull he had on her was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

Her thoughts were all over the place as she returned to the office space. She had come here to prove herself, to show that she didn’t need anyone, not even Xavier Liang. But after that encounter, she felt a different kind of pressure, one that had nothing to do with business and everything to do with the force that was Xavier.

She barely noticed the hours passing, her head spinning with conflicting emotions. He had always been an enigma—his presence so powerful that it commanded attention, his eyes so piercing that they seemed to see straight through her. She didn’t want to admit it, but she couldn’t ignore the attraction either.

And what terrified her the most was how easily he seemed to control her thoughts, her actions. One encounter, and he had already gotten under her skin.

Just as she was about to close her laptop and leave, her phone buzzed again. Another message from Xavier. The screen flashed with a single sentence:

I hope you’re not running away from me.

Her heart skipped a beat as she read it. He wasn’t wrong. Part of her wanted to run—to escape this whirlwind of power, desire, and danger that was Xavier. But she couldn’t.

The temptation to respond was overwhelming, but Lydia refused to give him the satisfaction. Instead, she threw her phone into her bag and grabbed her coat, determined to push him out of her mind. The cold, brisk night air would help clear her head, she hoped.

But as she exited the building, her thoughts were interrupted again, this time by a familiar voice.

“Lydia, wait up!”

She froze. It was him—Xavier. She turned slowly, and there he was, standing just outside the door, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored coat. His presence was commanding, but there was something more beneath it, something softer.

“You’re relentless,” she muttered, her voice laced with irritation. She had tried to avoid him, to hold onto some semblance of control, but now here he was, as always, in her face.

Xavier smirked, taking slow steps toward her. “I told you, Lydia, I don’t let go easily.”

“Why don’t you take a hint?” she shot back, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

He stopped in front of her, towering over her with that intoxicating air of control that made her heart race. “You know, I didn’t think you’d be one of those women who plays hard to get. But here we are. You’re running from something, and I want to know what it is.”

Lydia’s chest tightened. She was running from him—there was no denying it. But it wasn’t just him. It was everything he represented—power, control, and a life that she wasn’t sure she could handle. She didn’t want to lose herself in him. She refused.

“I’m not running from you, Xavier,” she said, her voice cold and steady. “I’m running from this game you’re trying to play. I’m not some toy for your amusement.”

His eyes softened slightly, though the intensity in them never wavered. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The touch was gentle, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

“You think I’m playing a game?” he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You don’t even know the rules yet.”

Her breath caught in her throat as he stepped closer. The space between them was minimal now, and all she could think about was how fast her heart was beating.

“I told you before, Lydia,” Xavier continued, his gaze unwavering, “You’re already in it. And there’s no escaping.”

She wanted to push him away, to tell him that she wasn’t his to control. But the moment his lips curved into that slight, predatory smile, all the words she had prepared dissolved.

“Let me make you a proposition,” he said. “I’ll give you a deal. You work with me, and I’ll help you get exactly what you want. No games. No power struggles. I’ll give you the keys to everything—if you’re willing to accept them.”

Lydia swallowed, her mind racing. She had fought hard to get where she was. She didn’t need Xavier, didn’t need his influence. But the part of her that wanted to succeed, to reach the top, couldn’t deny the power his proposition promised.

“I don’t need your help,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, though she knew it sounded less convincing than she wanted.

Xavier chuckled softly, and the sound was both soothing and dangerous. “I think you do, Lydia. I think you need more than you’re willing to admit.”

The tension between them was palpable, thickening with every word. And for the first time since meeting him, Lydia couldn’t deny the truth: she was trapped.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again, this time with an urgent message from her business partner. But Xavier didn’t miss the flicker of distraction in her eyes.

He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “Remember, Lydia. No matter what you think… you’ll always come back to me.”

The words were soft but carried a weight that she couldn’t shake. She stood frozen in place as Xavier turned away, disappearing into the night, leaving her with nothing but her thoughts and an overwhelming feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more complicated.