The heir of the Wolfe

Chapter Eight: Crossing the line

Jane didn’t go far. She walked until the voices faded,she couldn’t escape it the tension, the pull, the way everything seemed to circle back to him, Adrian Wolfe.

“Walking away isn’t solving anything.” His voice came from behind her. Of course it did. Jane closed her eyes briefly before turning.

“Neither is staying.” Adrian stood a few steps away, his presence calm but intense, like he had already decided how this would go.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said.

Jane exhaled slowly. “I’m trying to do my job.” “And this is part of it.” Her brows pulled together.

“Since when?” “Since you became involved.”

The word lingered in the air. Jane shook her head.

“I’m not involved.” Adrian stepped closer.

“You stood in front of Elisa and challenged her.”

“She came at me first.”

“And you didn’t step back.” Jane met his gaze without hesitation.

“I don’t step back.” Something dark and approving flickered in his eyes. “I’ve noticed.” Silence stretched between them, thick with tension neither of them wanted to name.

Jane turned slightly, trying to break it. “If this is about me causing problems, I’ll stay out of her way.” “That’s not what I want.” The words stopped her instantly. She turned back slowly.

“Then what do you want?” Adrian didn’t answer immediately.

Then he stepped closer, closing the distance between them.

“You don’t run from pressure,” he said quietly. “You don’t fold. You don’t pretend.”

Jane’s breath slowed. “And that’s a problem?”

“It’s a risk.”

“For who?” His eyes locked onto hers.

“For me.” The answer hit deeper than she expected.

Jane swallowed slightly but didn’t look away. “You don’t seem like someone who takes risks.”

“I don’t.” “Then why me?” The question slipped out before she could stop it. For a moment, he didn’t respond. Or maybe he chose not to. Instead, his gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Jane felt it immediately that shift, that pull, that dangerous awareness building between them again.

“Adrian…” his name left her lips softly this time, unguarded,His eyes darkened. “Say it again.” Her heart skipped.

“What?” “My name.” The way he said it wasn’t a request. Jane hesitated for a second, then quietly repeated,

“Adrian.” She said again, this time more softer.

Something changed in him, something deeper, more real. He stepped closer, if that was even possible, and now she could feel the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his breathing.

“You’re crossing a line,” she whispered.

“So are you,” he replied.

Her pulse quickened. “You’re engaged.”

“I know.” “Then stop this.” But neither of them moved Not back nor Not away. Instead, Adrian lifted his hand slowly, his fingers brushing lightly against her jaw.

Every instinct told her to step back, to stop this before it went too far, but she didn’t. She stayed.

His gaze held hers, intense and searching, like he was waiting for her to stop him, maybe. She didn’t And that was all it took. He leaned in slowly, closing the space between them until she could feel his breath against her skin, until everything else disappeared. And then

“Adrian.” The voice cut through the moment sharply.

They both froze. Elisa stood a few steps away, her expression calm, but her eyes sharp and knowing. Jane stepped back immediately, her heart racing as the moment shattered. Adrian’s hand dropped, his face hardening instantly, control snapping back into place.

“Elisa.” Her gaze moved between them, taking in the distance, the tension, the silence. Then she smiled soft, but dangerous.

“I see I interrupted something.”

“No,” Adrian said flatly, but the word carried no weight. Because they all knew the truth.

Elisa’s eyes lingered on Jane before returning to him. “Your grandmother is asking for you.”

“I’ll be there.”

She didn’t move right away. Instead, she stepped slightly closer, her voice lowering. “You’re forgetting yourself again.” A pause. Then her gaze shifted back to Jane. “And you are getting too comfortable.” Jane said nothing, holding her composure even as tension tightened inside her chest.

Elisa’s smile returned, perfect and controlled. “This won’t end well.” Then she turned and walked away.

Silence followed, heavy and unavoidable. Jane exhaled slowly, still trying to steady her breathing.

“That shouldn’t have happened,” she said quietly.

Adrian didn’t respond immediately. When he did, his voice was lower. “But it did.”

Jane shook her head. “It can’t happen again.”A pause.

“That’s not entirely up to you.” She looked at him sharply.

“It is for me.” Their eyes locked again, tension rising but different now, more controlled, more dangerous. “You’re my assistant,” he said. Jane nodded. “Exactly.” “And that’s all this is supposed to be.” “Yes.” But neither of them sounded convinced.

As Jane walked back toward the estate, with an heavy heart.