*Isabella's POV*
I quickly hurried to change the subject, eager to avoid delving deeper into that conversation. "What about you? Where did you study?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
He looked at me with an amused smirk. "So, you stalk me through magazines but fail to learn the basic stuff," he teased, a chuckle in his voice.
I blinked, caught off guard. "I studied in Colombia. Double majored in Business and Computer Science," he replied casually.
"Really?" I asked, genuinely impressed.
He raised an eyebrow, amused. "You seem surprised," he said, a hint of playfulness in his tone. I looked away, nervously wringing my hands. "You don't strike me as a computer geek," I murmured, feeling a bit self-conscious.
He lowered his voice to a whisper in my ear. "Didn't you hear? Computer geeks are hot nowadays." I swallowed hard, nervously replying, "They sure are," which made him laugh softly, a low, amused sound.
Curious, I asked, "But why the double major, though?"
He looked at me with a slight smirk. "One is my passion, and the other is... well, I did business because I had to." I couldn't resist teasing him. "Daddy made you do it?" He shot me a quick, annoyed look. "Shut up," he muttered, and I giggled, feeling a thrill from the playful exchange.
"What's the matter? Can't handle a little teasing?" I challenged, and before I knew it, I burst into laughter. He leaned in closer, drawing nearer until I could almost feel his pulse racing against my skin. "Don't start with me, doll," he murmured softly, his presence so intense I could almost feel it in the air.
He had cornered me against the balcony railing, and in that moment, I couldn't help but feel a flutter stir in my stomach. The atmosphere around us shifted with startling speed , from the playful, teasing banter to something deeper, something more charged. His gaze lingered on me with a mischievous sparkle, but beneath that playfulness, I sensed something more intense. His hands rested lightly on my shoulders, warm and steady.
"Jacob, this is highly inappropriate," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. "You're my supervisor and..." The words felt foreign on my tongue, awkward and uncertain. I didn't mean anything I was saying, my gaze was fixed on his lips, and suddenly, words seemed less important than what I was really feeling.
"Inappropriate?" he echoed softly, a sly smile curling at his lips. "Tell me to stay away, and I will. Tell me to keep my hands to myself," he whispered, one hand slowly traveling up and down my arm, his touch sending a shiver through me. Every gentle stroke made my emotions flutter, just as they did every time he touched me, like a spark igniting inside.
"For the first time in your life, do what you want to do," he murmured, his other hand lifting my chin gently, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. His eyes were now more intense , less playful, more commanding. "Do what you crave. Tonight, it's just you and me. We don't work at Lancaster Corp. Just Isabella and Jacob."
His voice was low, almost a whisper, but the weight of his words sank deep into me. "There are no paparazzi out—" he began, but I didn't give him a chance to finish. Without hesitation, I reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him in close. My heart pounded in my chest as I closed the distance, crashing my lips against his in a fierce, impulsive kiss.
I surrendered to the moment, letting the desire that had been building between us finally take over. His lips—so inviting, so intoxicating—called to me all week. I had craved them, imagined tasting them, and now that I finally did, I felt an exhilaration unlike anything I'd experienced before.
He was right. Life's too short to keep resisting. I let him take the lead, my body melting into his eager kiss. And honestly, to say he was a good kisser was an understatement — what he did to me was beyond that. I forgot about the gala, the flashing cameras, everything else in the world. All that mattered was the sensation of his tongue dancing with mine, the feel of his hands gripping my hips and pulling me flush against him.
In that moment, nothing else existed but us—just the heat, the taste, and the undeniable truth that I was exactly where I was meant to be. I don't know why or even when we stopped, but when he finally pulled away and I opened my eyes, I felt like I needed to hold onto him or I'd fall. My legs felt weak, dizzy, as if the ground beneath me was swaying. I wanted more—so much more.
Jacob smiled softly, his hand drifting to the back of my neck, fingers gentle as he pulled me toward him again, his forehead resting against mine. We just stayed like that, caught in the quiet, breathless moment."Let's head inside, sweetheart. You're freezing," he finally said, his voice low but calm, pulling away and heading toward the door.
"No, I'm not. Jacob, wait. What was that? You don't get to do that," I said, frustration bubbling up inside me. My voice trembled with a mixture of anger and confusion. He looked at me, puzzled. "Do what?"
"Kiss me like that. Mess with my head. Did you think I'd fall for your Playboy charms? Yeah, we kissed, yeah, I lost my head for a moment, but that doesn't mean I'm coming home with you. It doesn't mean I don't know who you are—fucking—" I spat out, my voice thick with frustration and something else...jealousy? Or maybe just hurt? I wasn't sure anymore.
"I'm not jealous," I thought to myself, knowing damn well I could convince anyone of this let alone myself. He blinked, genuinely confused. "I'm sorry. What are you talking about?" "Are you talking about gossip magazines again?" he asked, chuckling, as if the entire thing was a joke.
"No. I'm talking about you and Jo-anne. She told me. That you're sleeping together." He paused, then laughed softly, but the sound felt like a blow to my feelings. "Did she?" he asked, still smiling, but the amusement didn't reach his eyes.
"Yeah. You're kind of greedy. You have one assistant, and you gotta have your brother's too?" I said, voice trembling with a mixture of anger and heartbreak.
He looked at me, then took a breath, his expression softening. "Okay. As much as it turns me on to see you spit fire like that... let's call Jo, okay?" he said, already pulling out his phone.
My stomach clenched. "What?" I managed, voice shaky, unsure if I'd heard him right.