Operative Temptation

"Hold still, miss. Just one second," the makeup artist murmured, reaching out with a powder brush. Kayleen jerked her hand away, ignoring the girl. She held her wrist up to the vanity light, checking the diamond cuff glowing against her skin. "I'm done." She looked past her reflection in the glass mirror of the VIP lounge. Out in the main ballroom, golden light washed over hundreds of guests in dark tuxedos and gowns, but Kayleen only cared about one man. Adrian Cross. He stood near the ice sculpture, talking with three older men. He leaned in slightly, holding a glass of scotch, looking every bit like the cold, powerful billionaire from the news. Kayleen smoothed down her green silk gown, took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, and walked straight into the crowd. She moved smoothly, head held high, looking like she belonged there. "Oh, excuse me!" Kayleen gasped, fake-stumbling right as she passed Adrian’s group. The champagne spilled over the rim, splashing across the sleeve of Adrian’s suit jacket. The three men gasped, quickly stepping back as if the liquid were hot oil. "Oh, I’m so sorry!" Kayleen said, her voice soft and breathless. She looked up at Adrian through her eyelashes, putting on her best charm. "I completely lost my balance on these heels. Let me call someone over to help clean that." Adrian didn't flinch. He set his scotch down on a tall marble table, then pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket. "Accidents happen, Miss Vance," Adrian said. His voice was deep and steady, without a trace of anger. He slowly dabbed at his sleeve. "Though usually, people try a bit harder to hide it." Kayleen kept her head tilted, giving him a soft, cool smile. "Hide what? I assure you, Mr. Cross, it was just a clumsy mistake." "Is that so?" Adrian asked smoothly. He tossed the damp handkerchief onto the table. "And watching me through the mirror for the last twenty minutes... was that a mistake, too?" Kayleen’s heart hammered against her chest, but her face stayed perfectly calm. She let out a light laugh, tapping her nails against her glass. "Well, you're not exactly hard to notice," she said, holding his gaze. "Can you really blame me for looking?" “Looking is harmless,” Adrian said, stepping closer. The faint smell of cedar and dark amber came off him. “It’s the reason behind the looking that gets people in trouble.” “Is that a warning, Mr. Cross?” Kayleen held her ground and met his eyes. “Because if you’re trying to scare me, it won’t work.” “Scare you?” He tilted his head, studying her face. “Why would I do that? I don’t waste time scaring people, Miss Vance. I just watch.” “And what have you noticed so far?” She took a half-step closer. “That I’m clumsy?” “I’ve seen this before,” he said quietly. “The head tilt. The voice.” A short pause. “You’re not the first.” Her smile stayed, but her shoulders went stiff under the silk dress. “Should I be flattered?” She raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you paid attention to me.” “You know your games,” he said softly. He put a firm hand on her elbow and steered her away from the noisy ballroom. “Walk with me.” She went with him, posture easy as they passed the whispering guests. “Where are we going? You haven’t even accepted my apology yet.” “Too loud in here.” He led her past tall flower arrangements and pushed through heavy velvet curtains into a quiet hallway behind the main gallery. The drapes fell shut. Golden light and distant jazz cut off. The air felt cool and still, smelling of old paint and canvas. Kayleen turned, backed up until her shoulders hit the wall, and crossed her arms. “So, Mr. Cross. Now that we’re alone, are you going to tell me what you want? Or are you just planning to corner me in a dark hallway?” He didn’t answer right away. He closed the space until he stood right in front of her, blocking the light from the door. “You think this is a game,” he said. “Isn’t it?” She leaned her head back against the wall. “You follow me back here and act like you know something I don’t. Do you do this with every woman who spills a drink on you?” “Only the ones who spend three weeks looking into my security team before buying a ticket tonight.” Her breath caught. She forced a short laugh. “You’re paranoid. I bought a ticket because I like art.” “No, you don’t.” He reached out and lightly touched the diamond cuff on her wrist. “You don’t care about the art. You don’t care about the drink. And you definitely don’t care about me.” “Then why am I…” She stopped. Swallowed. “Why am I still standing here?” Adrian leaned in until his lips were near her ear. He breathed in the faint scent of jasmine on her skin. “Nice perfume,” he whispered, voice low and steady. “It suits you…” He paused. Warm breath touched her skin. “…Katarina.” ​