Chapter 5 Episode 5

Eva stepped out of her apartment and into the brisk New York evening, the cool air biting at her exposed skin. She pulled her coat tighter around her, the weight of her decision pressing down on her shoulders. As her heels clicked against the pavement, the tension in her chest grew. The drive to the Windsor wasn't long, but every second felt like an eternity, her mind racing through the implications of what she was about to do.

She wasn't sure why she was going. Was it curiosity? Defiance? Or something far more dangerous? She didn't have the answer, but the magnetic pull she felt toward Aiden was impossible to ignore. They had crossed lines before, lines that blurred between professional and personal, between hate and desire, but this felt different. Tonight felt like a turning point, a moment where everything could unravel or fall into place.

As the sleek black car pulled up in front of the Windsor, Eva took a steadying breath. The doorman opened the door for her with a polite nod, and she stepped inside the opulent lobby. The gold accents gleamed under the soft lighting, and the hum of classical music filled the air. It was a world of luxury, one she was all too familiar with, but tonight it felt like a gilded cage.

"Good evening, Miss Knight," the receptionist greeted her with a smile. "Mr. Wolfe is expecting you. The penthouse is ready."

Of course, he was expecting her. Aiden always seemed to know exactly what she would do, always one step ahead, always calculating. The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside, her pulse quickening with every floor she ascended. By the time she reached the top, her heart was pounding in her chest, a mix of anticipation and apprehension swirling within her.

When the doors slid open, Eva was greeted by the soft glow of the penthouse suite. The room was breathtaking, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline, the twinkling lights stretching out into the distance. The air was thick with the scent of cedar and something distinctly masculine, unmistakably Aiden.

He was standing by the windows, his back to her, hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored pants. The city lights cast a soft halo around him, making him look even more imposing. He turned slowly as she entered, his gaze locking onto hers with a smoldering intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"You came," Aiden said, his voice smooth but tinged with satisfaction, as if he had known all along she would.

Eva held her chin high, refusing to let him see how deeply he affected her. "Don't make me regret it."

Aiden's lips curved into a slow, predatory smile. "I wouldn't dream of it."

He took a step closer, his presence filling the space between them, but Eva held her ground. She wasn't here to play games-not the ones he was so good at, anyway. She had come to confront this, whatever it was between them, to figure out if it was lust or something more.

"Why did you invite me here?" she asked, cutting to the chase. Her voice was steady, but her heart raced.

Aiden studied her, his dark eyes flickering with something unreadable. "You know why, Eva. This thing between us-this tension-it's been building for too long. It's time we stop pretending."

Eva crossed her arms, a barrier between them, though she knew it wouldn't last. "Pretending what? That we hate each other?"

Aiden chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "We don't hate each other. We've been dancing around this for years, Eva. The rivalry, the push and pull-it's all been leading to this."

Eva narrowed her eyes, refusing to let him seduce her with his words, even though every fiber of her being was already responding to him. "You think you can just snap your fingers and I'll come running? That I'll fall in line like everyone else you control?"

Aiden's expression darkened, his playful smirk fading. "I don't want to control you, Eva. I want to understand you. To know why you're always running from this-running from me."

Her pulse quickened, the truth hitting closer to home than she wanted to admit. She had been running. Every time their paths crossed, every time the heat between them threatened to ignite, she pulled back, terrified of what would happen if she gave in. But this time felt different. There was no boardroom to hide behind, no business deals to use as an excuse. It was just them, stripped of the pretenses, standing on the precipice of something that could either destroy or consume them.

"You don't know anything about me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but even she didn't believe the words.

Aiden stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body, the air between them charged with electricity. His hand lifted, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, the touch so gentle it sent a shiver down her spine.

"I know you're scared," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, "but you don't have to be. Not with me."

Eva's breath hitched, her resolve crumbling with each passing second. His touch, his words-they made her feel vulnerable in a way she hadn't felt in years, and it terrified her. But it also excited her, the thrill of losing control, of letting herself feel something real for once.

She swallowed hard, her eyes locking onto his, the space between them shrinking until it was nonexistent. "And what happens if I stop running? What then?"

Aiden's hand slid to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her closer, his breath warm against her lips. "Then we see what's been waiting for us all this time."

His lips brushed against hers, a tentative kiss that sent a wave of heat through her body, igniting the fire that had been simmering for so long. It was gentle at first, a slow exploration, but the second she kissed him back, the dam broke. Their lips crashed together, all the pent-up frustration and desire spilling out in a frenzy of passion.

Aiden's hands roamed her body, pulling her flush against him as the kiss deepened, and Eva found herself melting into him, her fingers gripping his shirt as if she needed him to anchor her. The world outside ceased to exist, the only thing that mattered was the way he made her feel-alive, breathless, consumed.

But as quickly as it began, Eva pulled away, gasping for air, her mind spinning. This wasn't what she had come here for. She needed answers, clarity, not to get swept up in the whirlwind of lust that always seemed to follow Aiden Wolfe.

"I can't do this," she said, stepping back, her breath ragged.

Aiden frowned, his gaze dark with confusion and something else-something that looked suspiciously like hurt. "Eva-"

"No." She shook her head, forcing herself to regain control. "This... whatever this is, it's dangerous. We're rivals, Aiden. This can't happen."

Aiden's jaw clenched, the frustration evident in the tense line of his body. "We're more than rivals, Eva, and you know it."

Eva's heart ached at the truth in his words, but she couldn't let herself believe it. Not yet. Not when there was so much at stake.

"I need time," she whispered, barely able to meet his gaze.

Aiden exhaled sharply, his hand raking through his hair in frustration, but he didn't push her. "Fine. Take all the time you need. But know this, Eva-I'm not giving up on you. Not now, not ever."

His words echoed in her mind as she turned and walked away, her heart heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. As she stepped into the elevator, her body still humming from his touch, she knew one thing for certain.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.