Chapter 2 Episode 2

Eva didn't stop walking until she was back inside the penthouse, the door to the terrace swinging shut behind her with a soft click. She pressed her back against the wall, closing her eyes and letting out a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside her. Her lips still tingled from Aiden's kiss, and her mind replayed the moment over and over, refusing to let her forget the way he had looked at her-as if she was the only thing that mattered in the world.

But she couldn't allow herself to get caught up in him. Not now, not ever.

With a groan, she pushed off the wall and made her way through the penthouse. The party was still in full swing, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses floating through the rooms, but Eva barely registered it. Her mind was elsewhere, spinning in a million different directions.

She needed to leave. Being here, in his space, in his world, was a mistake. She wasn't thinking straight, and she knew that if she stayed, she would make another one. Aiden Wolfe had a way of getting under her skin, of making her question everything she knew, and she couldn't afford that kind of distraction. Not with everything she had on the line.

Eva grabbed her clutch from the table near the entrance, her fingers tightening around the small bag as if it could somehow ground her, give her strength. She was halfway to the door when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Leaving already?"

Victoria Harlow.

Eva didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. The sharp tone of the woman's voice was unmistakable. She paused, squaring her shoulders before facing Aiden's ex-fiancée, who stood by the bar, a glass of champagne in hand and a sly smile curving her lips.

"That's right," Eva said, her voice cool, matching the icy calm in her eyes. "Some of us have actual work to do."

Victoria's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with something dark and unpleasant. "Of course. Always so busy, aren't you, Eva? But then again, I suppose it's hard to relax when you're constantly trying to outrun your competition."

Eva clenched her jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. Victoria had always been a snake, slithering around, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Eva wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of getting under her skin.

"I don't have competition," Eva said smoothly, tilting her head slightly. "Not anymore."

Victoria chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Ah, that's where you're wrong. You see, in this world, there's always competition. Even when you think you've won."

Eva's eyes narrowed. "What's your point, Victoria?"

The other woman took a sip of her champagne, her gaze never leaving Eva's. "My point is, you're not as invincible as you think you are. And Aiden... well, he's not the type to settle. Not in business, and certainly not in relationships."

The implication was clear, and Eva's stomach twisted. Victoria was trying to make her doubt, to plant seeds of insecurity, but Eva refused to let it show. She'd dealt with people like Victoria her entire career-people who thrived on manipulation and deceit. She wouldn't let this woman tear her down.

"I'm not interested in whatever game you're trying to play," Eva said coldly. "Aiden and I have nothing to do with each other outside of business. So if you think you're warning me about him, save it."

Victoria's smile remained, but there was a flicker of something-frustration, perhaps-behind her eyes. "Oh, Eva. You really don't get it, do you? You're already in deeper than you think. Aiden's not someone you can just walk away from."

Eva's chest tightened. "Watch me."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and strode toward the door, her heels clicking against the marble floor. But Victoria's voice followed her, soft and taunting.

"We'll see how long that lasts."

Eva's fingers tightened around the door handle, a surge of anger rushing through her. She wanted to turn back, to say something that would wipe that smug smile off Victoria's face. But she knew better than to engage. Victoria was baiting her, trying to get a reaction, and Eva wasn't about to give her the satisfaction.

She pulled open the door and stepped into the hallway, the cool air a welcome relief from the tension that had been building inside the penthouse. The moment the door closed behind her, Eva leaned against it, letting out a long breath.

Her mind was still spinning, and the worst part was, Victoria's words had hit a nerve. Eva hated to admit it, but she knew there was some truth in what the other woman had said. Aiden wasn't someone you could simply walk away from. And despite everything, despite her best efforts to keep him at arm's length, she was already in deeper than she wanted to be.

Aiden Wolfe was a complication she didn't need. But now, he was also a complication she couldn't ignore.

With a heavy sigh, she pushed off the door and made her way down the hall, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. She needed to get her head on straight. She needed to focus. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the memory of Aiden's touch, the intensity in his eyes, or the way he had kissed her like she was the only thing that mattered.

And that, more than anything, scared her.

Aiden stood on the terrace long after Eva had left, his hands braced on the railing as he stared out at the city below. The skyline glittered with a thousand lights, but all he could think about was her-Eva, with her sharp tongue, her fiery spirit, and that damn kiss that had nearly undone him.

He hadn't meant to kiss her. At least, not tonight. He'd gone into the party with every intention of keeping things strictly professional. He had business to take care of, deals to make, and Eva was just one piece of that puzzle.

But the moment he saw her standing there, looking like she belonged among the stars, all his carefully laid plans had gone out the window.

Damn her.

Aiden raked a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. Eva Knight was nothing like any of the other women he'd known. She was a challenge, a puzzle he couldn't quite solve, and it drove him crazy. He was used to being in control, to bending people to his will with little more than a word. But Eva... she defied him at every turn, pushed back when others would have yielded, and somehow, that made him want her even more.

But it wasn't just desire that pulled him toward her. It was something deeper, something he wasn't sure he was ready to face. He had spent years building his empire, amassing power and wealth, but none of that had prepared him for her. Eva had a way of getting under his skin, of making him feel things he had long since buried.

And that was dangerous.

He couldn't afford distractions. Not now. Not when the stakes were higher than ever. Wolfe Enterprises was on the verge of a major merger, and Eva's company was a critical part of that deal. He had planned to acquire her business, to bring her into his fold one way or another. But now, things were more complicated than ever.

Because now, it wasn't just about business.

With a frustrated sigh, Aiden turned away from the railing and made his way back inside. The party was still in full swing, but he barely noticed it. His mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of Eva, with the feel of her lips on his, the taste of her still lingering on his tongue.

He needed to get his head on straight. He needed to focus. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.

And he wasn't sure he was ready for it.