THE KISS HE COULDN’T RESIST
1993 Words
Alexander Blackwood had spent his entire adult life believing that emotions were an unnecessary complication.
Business was simple.
Numbers either worked or they didn’t. Contracts were either profitable or worthless. Employees either performed their responsibilities or found themselves looking for another job.
People, however, were considerably more complicated.
And lately, one particular person had become an irritating distraction.
Elena Montgomery.
His personal assistant.
The woman who had somehow survived working for him longer than anyone else.
The woman who prepared his coffee, organized his schedule, and occasionally challenged him with the most innocent expression imaginable.
And, unfortunately, the woman who had kissed him at a company party.
Alexander had told himself that the incident was meaningless.
A drunken mistake.
Something best forgotten.
Yet whenever Elena stood too close, his mind had developed an annoying habit of remembering.
Elena arrived at Blackwood Tower carrying two folders and a paper bag.
She wore a soft pink blouse tucked into a black pencil skirt. Her long brown hair fell in loose waves down her back, and a delicate silver necklace rested against her collarbone.
As usual, she greeted the receptionist and security guards before stepping onto the private elevator.
When the doors opened, Alexander was already standing outside his office.
Elena: “Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.”
His grey eyes moved toward her.
Alexander: “You’re late.”
Elena glanced at her phone.
Elena: “I’m actually early, sir.”
Alexander: “Then you’re wasting time arguing.”
She pressed her lips together.
Elena: “Yes, Mr. Blackwood.”
Alexander noticed the paper bag.
Alexander: “What’s that?”
Elena hesitated.
Elena: “Breakfast.”
His expression darkened.
Alexander: “Miss Montgomery.”
She immediately raised her free hand.
Elena: “Before you get angry, I made it for myself.”
Alexander stared at her.
Alexander: “Then why are there two containers?”
Elena looked down.
A guilty smile appeared.
Elena: “I made too much again.”
Alexander exhaled sharply.
Alexander: “Your mathematical abilities seem to disappear whenever food is involved.”
Elena laughed softly.
Elena: “Only breakfast, sir.”
He looked at her for another moment.
Then he opened his office door.
Alexander: “Bring it inside.”
Elena smiled.
Elena: “Of course, sir.”
The morning passed quickly.
Alexander had several important meetings, and Elena spent most of her time preparing documents, responding to emails, and coordinating with Daniel.
Their professional relationship remained unchanged whenever other employees were present.
Alexander called her Miss Montgomery.
He issued instructions without unnecessary conversation.
And Elena responded with the same polite professionalism she had maintained since her first day.
But when they were alone, things were different.
Not dramatically.
Just enough for Elena to notice.
He occasionally asked whether she’d eaten.
Sometimes he listened when she spoke instead of immediately dismissing her.
And lately, he had begun calling her Elena.
It was a small change.
Yet every time she heard her first name in his deep voice, something fluttered inside her chest.
The incident happened while they were preparing for an important investor presentation.
Alexander had asked Elena to retrieve several contracts from the storage cabinet inside his office.
The cabinet was tall, with polished wooden shelves and heavy glass doors.
Elena stood on her toes, stretching toward a folder on the upper shelf.
Elena: “Almost…”
She reached higher.
Her fingertips brushed the edge of the folder.
Then she felt someone standing behind her.
Alexander: “Elena.”
She startled.
Elena: “Oh!”
Alexander reached above her head.
Alexander: “Move before you knock everything down.”
Elena: “I can reach it.”
Alexander: “Clearly.”
His arm extended past her shoulder.
Elena instinctively turned to face him.
At exactly the same moment, Alexander lowered his head to look at her.
Their lips brushed.
Both froze.
It lasted barely a second.
An accidental touch.
Nothing more.
Elena’s eyes widened.
Alexander stared down at her.
For several heartbeats, neither moved.
Then Elena stepped backward.
Elena: “Oh my God. I’m so sorry!”
Alexander remained silent.
His expression was unreadable.
Elena’s cheeks turned bright red.
Elena: “I didn’t mean to do that. I was turning around, and you were—”
Alexander: “Elena.”
She stopped.
His voice was low.
Different.
Elena: “Yes?”
Alexander looked at her lips.
Then her eyes.
He should have stepped away.
He knew that.
She was his assistant.
He was her employer.
And the last thing he needed was another complication.
But instead of moving, Alexander lifted one hand toward her face.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek.
Elena stopped breathing.
Elena: “Alexander?”
He didn’t answer.
His hand settled gently against the side of her neck, his thumb resting beneath her jaw.
He paused, close enough that she could have moved away.
Elena didn’t.
Instead, she looked up at him, her expression uncertain but unmistakably drawn toward him.
Alexander lowered his head.
And kissed her.
This time, it wasn’t an accident.
Elena’s eyes widened in surprise.
For one brief moment, she stood completely still.
Then she closed her eyes.
Her hand instinctively reached for the front of his shirt.
Alexander’s other arm moved around her waist, drawing her closer.
The kiss deepened.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
His hand remained against her neck while his other arm held her securely around her soft waist.
Elena could feel the warmth of his body through his expensive shirt.
She had never imagined Alexander Blackwood could kiss someone like this.
Not with the cold indifference he showed the rest of the world.
But with a quiet intensity that made her forget where she was standing.
For several moments, neither spoke.
There were no instructions.
No arguments.
No sharp remarks.
Only the unfamiliar closeness between them.
Alexander tilted his head slightly, and Elena responded without thinking.
Her fingers tightened around his shirt.
He drew her another inch closer.
The kiss lasted far longer than either had intended.
When they finally separated, Elena’s cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was uneven.
Alexander remained close.
His hand was still resting against her waist.
For the first time in her life, Elena Montgomery had absolutely no idea what to say.
Alexander looked down at her.
His grey eyes were darker than usual.
Neither spoke.
Then Elena suddenly remembered where they were.
His office.
Blackwood International.
Her workplace.
She stepped backward.
Elena: “Alexander…”
His hand fell away.
Alexander: “What?”
Her eyes widened.
Elena: “We just…”
She touched her lips.
Alexander’s expression slowly returned to its familiar coldness.
Alexander: “I’m aware.”
Elena looked mortified.
Elena: “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Alexander studied her.
Alexander: “The first part wasn’t.”
Her heart skipped.
Elena: “And the second?”
He remained silent for a moment.
Then he stepped back.
Alexander: “We have a presentation to prepare.”
Elena blinked.
Elena: “That’s it?”
Alexander looked at her.
Alexander: “What exactly were you expecting?”
She lowered her gaze.
Elena: “Nothing, sir.”
Something about her answer irritated him.
He didn’t know why.
Alexander: “Then get back to work.”
Elena nodded.
Elena: “Yes, Mr. Blackwood.”
She gathered the folder and hurried toward the door.
Alexander watched her leave.
Only after the door closed did he release a slow breath.
He had kissed his assistant.
Deliberately.
And the most disturbing part was that he had wanted to do it again.
Elena barely survived the rest of the afternoon.
Every time Alexander called her into his office, her heart raced.
Every time he stood beside her, she remembered his hand against her neck.
His arm around her waist.
The warmth of his lips.
She tried desperately to concentrate on her work.
Unfortunately, her mind refused to cooperate.
When Sofia approached her desk, she immediately noticed something unusual.
Sofia: “Elena?”
Elena looked up.
Elena: “Yes?”
Sofia narrowed her eyes.
Sofia: “Why are you smiling at your computer?”
Elena immediately stopped.
Elena: “I’m not.”
Sofia: “You absolutely were.”
Elena: “I was just thinking about something.”
Sofia leaned closer.
Sofia: “Something or someone?”
Elena’s face turned red.
Sofia gasped.
Sofia: “Oh my God.”
Elena: “Sofia!”
Sofia: “There’s a man!”
Elena covered her face.
Elena: “Please stop!”
Sofia laughed.
Sofia: “Fine, fine. But I’m getting the details eventually.”
Elena smiled nervously.
If Sofia knew the truth, she would probably scream loud enough for the entire building to hear.
Inside his office, Alexander was having an equally unproductive afternoon.
He had read the same paragraph of a contract three times.
That alone was unacceptable.
He pushed the document aside and leaned back in his chair.
The kiss had been a mistake.
A serious one.
He was not a man who allowed personal attraction to interfere with his business.
And Elena Montgomery was his employee.
He could have any woman he wanted.
Beautiful models.
Famous actresses.
Women who understood exactly what kind of relationship he offered.
Yet none of them had occupied his thoughts quite like the shy woman sitting outside his office.
Alexander rubbed his jaw.
This was becoming ridiculous.
He pressed the intercom.
Alexander: “Elena.”
Her voice answered immediately.
Elena: “Yes, Alexander?”
He paused.
For some reason, hearing her say his name made the memory of the kiss return.
Alexander: “Bring me the Sterling contract.”
Elena: “Of course.”
Moments later, she entered.
She placed the folder on his desk.
Elena: “Here you go.”
Alexander looked at her.
Elena avoided his eyes.
He noticed.
Alexander: “Look at me.”
She slowly lifted her gaze.
Elena: “Yes?”
He studied her expression.
Alexander: “Are you going to behave strangely for the rest of the day?”
Her cheeks warmed.
Elena: “I’m trying not to.”
Alexander leaned back.
Alexander: “Then stop overthinking.”
Elena hesitated.
Elena: “That’s easy for you to say.”
His eyebrow rose.
Alexander: “Excuse me?”
She immediately looked embarrassed.
Elena: “Nothing.”
Alexander watched her for a moment.
Then his voice lowered.
Alexander: “Elena.”
She looked up.
Alexander: “I kissed you.”
Her heart skipped.
He continued.
Alexander: “You didn’t imagine it.”
Elena swallowed.
Elena: “I know.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Alexander looked toward the documents.
Alexander: “But it doesn’t change our responsibilities.”
Elena nodded.
Elena: “Of course.”
She turned toward the door.
Before leaving, she looked back.
Elena: “Alexander?”
He raised his eyes.
Elena: “Are we going to pretend it never happened?”
Alexander stared at her.
A long silence followed.
Then he answered.
Alexander: “I haven’t decided.”
Elena’s breath caught.
She nodded slowly before leaving.
That evening, Alexander stood alone beside the enormous windows of his office.
The city glittered beneath him.
Normally, he enjoyed the silence after everyone had gone home.
Tonight, however, the quiet felt different.
He remembered Elena standing in front of him.
Her startled expression.
The way she’d looked up at him.
And the moment she’d kissed him back.
Alexander closed his eyes briefly.
He had crossed a line.
One he had established himself.
One he had never intended to cross.
And yet, if he were standing in front of her again, with her lips only inches from his—
He wasn’t entirely certain he would stop himself.
That realization disturbed him.
Because Alexander Blackwood was accustomed to controlling everything.
His company.
His employees.
His relationships.
His emotions.
But Elena Montgomery was becoming the one complication he couldn’t solve with money, authority, or a signature.
And for the first time in years, Alexander Blackwood was beginning to want something he knew he shouldn’t have.
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