The meeting began in concentrated silence. The long glass table gleamed with spotless order; in front of each person lay neatly arranged papers, laptops, and cups of coffee. The daylight pouring in through the panoramic windows felt almost too bright for the tense atmosphere inside.
Auren sat upright, carefully listening to her colleagues. Only her heart betrayed her, beating out of rhythm each time her eyes accidentally met Kael's. He sat across from her, outwardly relaxed, yet there was far too much in his gaze to call it calm.
"Auren, your opinion?" a voice called.
She blinked, quickly pulling herself back to reality, and answered in an even tone, delivering her comments. Then, with quiet confidence, she added:
"I've prepared some additional materials. Let's go over them together."
Rising to her feet, Auren picked up a stack of papers. Her steps were measured, her movements precise. She handed out the documents with a strictly professional demeanor.
But when she reached Kael, he extended his hand a little slower than necessary and leaned closer. His eyes were not on the papers.
"So considerate," he murmured, almost inaudible. "Always thinking of me, Auren?"
She placed the sheet down a touch more firmly than usual.
"Only about the project."
"A shame." His lips curved in a smirk. "For a moment, I thought you meant me."
Auren turned to move on, but under the table his fingers brushed against her wrist. Quick, hidden, but undeniable. His thumb traced lightly over her skin—a fleeting touch that sent a sharp pull through her chest.
"Careful," his voice was velvet-soft, low. "Sometimes the game goes too far."
Auren held her breath.
"Isn't that the point of the game?" she replied, just as quietly.
She slipped out of his grasp and continued distributing the papers, outwardly composed. But the sensation of his touch pulsed on her skin.
Minutes later, Kael leaned back in his chair, listening to the discussion—or at least pretending to. In truth, his attention kept drifting back to her. Auren stood by the screen, explaining charts, but her fingers tightened slightly on the sheet when their eyes met. For a second, her breath caught. He noticed—and that was enough to tell him she felt it too.
The door creaked open. A latecomer paused, glancing around for a seat. Only two remained—one beside Kael, and one directly across from him. The man cast a quick look at the director and, catching the cold warning in his eyes, wisely chose the latter. Better to keep his distance from dangerous proximity than to sit too close.
"If you look at this chart, you can see that the growth remains stable," Auren spoke with confidence, clicking the remote to switch slides. "But there are details that require additional attention in the design."
She picked up a stack of papers and, after a quick glance through them, noticed something missing. A slight pause. Instantly, she composed herself, making it seem like part of the process.
"My apologies," she said calmly, raising her eyes to her colleagues. "It looks like I left part of the handouts on the table."
Her gaze flicked to the spot where she had left the extra documents... and only then did she notice: a portion of the papers was still there, neatly stacked. But no longer on the desk that had been hers. The latecomer had claimed the seat, shifting the stack forward—to the one remaining empty space. Next to Kael.
Auren hesitated only for a moment, straightened her back, and pretended it meant nothing. She stepped forward smoothly, leaned down, and reached for the stack of papers at the edge of the table.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, creating space, watching her movements with a lazy smirk.
Auren picked up the missing materials in silence, not letting her fingers linger anywhere near his hand, and straightened as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
That was exactly what he liked about her. Calm—balanced on the edge of defiance.
Kael shifted sideways, leaning in so only she could hear him. His smile was slow, deliberate.
"You have no idea how distracting you are."
Auren arched a brow, giving him a look of feigned indifference.
"That's your problem, not mine."
But her grip on the papers tightened slightly. Kael noticed.
He leaned closer again, his lips nearly brushing her ear.
"Are you sure?" His voice dropped, velvet-soft, almost dangerous.
Auren shot him a sharp glance, then turned away quickly, biting her lip.
She was playing with him—but he was playing with her too.
And Kael loved every second of it.
Auren placed another sheet in front of him, helping a colleague distribute the rest of the documents.
"Think you can handle this?" Her voice was almost innocent, but her eyes carried a challenge.
Kael took the page, letting his fingers slide across hers in a barely-there, deliberate touch.
"You have no idea what I can handle," he replied, holding her gaze a moment longer than necessary.
Auren was about to turn away, but he leaned in again, his voice low, words brushing directly against her ear.
"After the meeting, my office. We need to discuss... work matters."
Auren rolled her eyes in an exaggerated, almost theatrical motion—but timed it to look like she was simply turning her head toward the screen. Only Kael caught the subtle twitch at the corner of her lips, betraying a restrained smile.
She stepped forward, back to the screen, taking control of the presentation once more.
"As you can see from the data, the main dynamic remains steady. However, there are details that should be considered for the next stage of development..."
Her voice was steady, clear, as though nothing had happened. But Kael had no doubts: she had heard him—and understood the hint.
About ten minutes passed, and Kael was once again bored without Auren's attention. Boredom wasn't something he tolerated well—so he decided to act.
He picked up his pen and, while Auren stood by the screen speaking to the room, neatly scribbled on the sheet in front of him:
"You look far too focused. Relax, or everyone will notice I'm distracting you."
Feigning seriousness, he lifted the paper as if examining it and announced:
"There's some kind of smudge on my document. Auren, could you check it?"
At once, the colleagues around the table began inspecting their own sheets, but Auren knew immediately what he was up to. Rolling her eyes, she walked over, took the paper from him, and as she leaned down, she caught sight of the line he had written.
For the briefest second, her expression faltered—the corners of her lips threatening to curve—but she quickly mastered herself, continuing as though she hadn't noticed a thing.
She slowly examined the document, fully aware there was no smudge to be found.
Kael seized the moment, leaning in just slightly, his voice low enough for only her to hear:
"Did you know that when you're focused, your brows crease just a little?"
Auren dropped the sheet back onto the table with a sharp motion, straightened, and said loudly enough for everyone to hear:
"The document is clean. Please pay closer attention."
***
As the door clicked shut behind the last participant, the room fell into a ringing silence—thick, heavy, as if the very air had stopped breathing. Auren kept her flawless composure for a few seconds longer, her expression carved in stone. But when the silence settled fully, she slowly turned toward Kael. Her eyes narrowed, a spark flashing in their depths—sharp as a blade. In that moment, all her restraint seemed nothing more than a mask she no longer intended to wear.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the smooth surface of the table, letting the silence wrap around them.
"You..." she began, her voice low, deliberate, as she stepped forward.
Her heels echoed in the hush, each step like a warning. Kael smirked, arms folded across his chest, savoring the tension.
"Yes? Something wrong?"
Auren suddenly snatched up the very sheet of paper he had marked and thrust it back into his hands.
"What's this?"
He let his eyes drift lazily over the page, then looked back at her with feigned innocence.
"A message," he said lightly. "Didn't you like it?"
Without breaking eye contact, Auren took the paper back. It rustled in her fingers as she dragged it slowly across the polished table, almost as if wiping it clean.
"Well, since the document's cleanliness matters so much to you... I hope it's spotless now, boss."
Kael rose from his chair. Every movement was unhurried, deliberate, as though each step carried intent. His voice dropped low, velvet and dangerous in the charged quiet:
"Well then... now that we're alone..."
He stopped right in front of her, folding his arms again, tilting his head slightly as though testing her. His words weren't sharp, but there was a fine thread of threat woven through them, piercing the air:
"You think you can provoke me like that and just walk away without consequences?"
Auren smirked, brow arched, though he noticed her fingers tighten on the fabric of her blouse. She was waiting. Expecting. His next move.
He stepped closer still, closing the last of the distance. His voice softened, almost intimate:
"You know I don't let things slide, Auren..."
She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as if to break the tension.
"No—but why did you try to make a fool out of me in front of everyone?"
One eyebrow lifted, his expression amused.
"Embarrass you?" he repeated slowly, tasting the word. "Do you really think I'd do that in front of all of them?"
Another step, and there was no more space between them. His gaze pinned her.
"If I wanted to, you would have felt it during the meeting itself."
Her lips parted, but before she could respond, his fingers brushed her chin, tilting her face up. His eyes deepened, his voice falling to a whisper—hot, dangerous.
"But I like it when you get worked up... it makes you even more beautiful."
She tried to hold steady, but he caught it—the faint flush warming her cheeks, the flicker of heat at her ears. Auren's hands trembled slightly before balling into fists.
"You know you're blushing, don't you?" His tone was gentle, teasing, yet far too close.
She rolled her eyes again, refusing to give ground.
"It doesn't matter," she said flatly, masking the embarrassment.
Kael smirked, his gaze tracing her face as if reading every hidden emotion.
"Of course it doesn't..." he agreed smoothly, though his eyes glittered with something else. "Then why are you still standing here?"
Her stare burned into his, defiant.
"Because I want to teach you a lesson. To remind you it's not acceptable to behave like that in public."
His head tilted, curiosity sparking.
"Teach me a lesson?" he echoed with quiet anticipation. "And how exactly will you do that?"
Auren folded her arms across her chest, refusing to look away.
"By making you regret trying to rattle me."
His lips curled into a dangerous smile, his eyes alight.
"Now you've got me even more interested. Let's see which of us regrets it first."
The silence tightened like a taut string about to snap. Then Auren stepped forward, erasing the air between them. Her fingers slipped behind his neck, weaving lightly, and she rose on her toes, erasing the final inches.
Kael froze. His breath hitched as her face hovered so close, her lashes nearly brushing his skin. Her lips lingered a breath away from his, her warm exhale teasing him with the illusion of a kiss.
His hands instinctively reached for her waist...
But just before he touched her, Auren suddenly pulled back, mischief flashing in her eyes.
With one swift move, she knocked the stack of documents from the table. Papers scattered in a flurry, filling the air with a sharp rustle. And before Kael could even register what had happened, she darted for the door.
"Damn..." he breathed, watching her figure vanish beyond the threshold.
His eyes fell to the papers strewn across the floor, but a realization struck almost immediately.
To get back to her own office, she would have to pass through the reception area. Her reception area.
Auren had trapped herself.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. He ran his tongue over his lower lip and began walking toward the door—ready to continue the game.
***
Auren was almost running down the corridor, her heart pounding somewhere in her throat. The sharp echo of her heels rang across the empty floor, but she didn't care—what mattered was getting away in time. She knew Kael could follow, and the thought that he wouldn't let her go only pushed her faster.
Finally, the familiar door to her office appeared ahead. She flung it open, darted inside, and shut it behind her with a sharp slam, exhaling in relief. It felt like she'd slipped away, quick and clever.
But when she turned around, a chill raced down her spine.
Kael was already there, leaning by the window, calm and composed, as if he had been waiting for her all along.
"You really thought you could run from me?" His voice was lazy, almost mocking.
Auren froze, realizing he had used the executive elevator that led directly to his office. While she had been weaving through hallways and climbing stairs, he was already here, waiting.
"And where will you run now?"
She took a step back, but he instantly closed the distance, driving her toward the corner.
"You were the one who decided to tease me," Kael said, his gaze cutting into her, making her insides twist.
Auren pressed her lips together, her confidence wavering for just a second, but she refused to yield.
"You deserved it," she shot back, boldly meeting his eyes.
"Really?" His smirk widened as he stepped closer.
Her back brushed against the cold wall. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to stay steady. Folding her arms, she masked her unease with feigned confidence.
"Maybe I do deserve punishment for the chaos in the meeting room," she said firmly. "But you should pay for your little stunts too. So we're even."
Kael leaned in, his voice dropping lower, deeper, a sound that sent chills down her skin.
"So what you're saying is... I need punishment?"
Auren lifted her chin proudly.
"Yes."
His eyes narrowed in amusement. Arms crossed, he let his words linger with deliberate weight.
"A dangerous game. But remember—every game comes with a price."
Auren's smile was sweet, but her eyes glittered with mischief.
"Only if you lose. And I, as you should know, never lose."
He chuckled under his breath, stepping closer—only to suddenly pull back, leaving the tension to stretch between them.
"You know exactly what you're doing. And you like it, don't you?"
She bit her lip for just a second, then smirked.
"Of course."
"Then keep going," he murmured, his tone velvet and low. "But be careful—play with fire long enough, and you'll be the first to get burned."
Auren leaned in slightly, her whisper sharp with defiance.
"Maybe I don't mind the burn."
Kael shook his head with a crooked smile.
"Then don't blame me when you can't stop yourself."
Her eyes narrowed playfully.
"You're the one who always loses control. You couldn't even remember a single word from the meeting."
He let out a restrained laugh, tilting his head.
"How could I, when you keep distracting me? You know exactly what you're doing."
"I didn't do anything," she replied innocently. "I was only presenting. You're the one who can't control himself."
He braced a hand against the wall beside her, leaning in until the air between them grew heavy.
"You call that nothing? Every glance, every move—like a challenge I can't ignore. Or do you really think your 'innocence' is that convincing?"
Auren lifted her chin, though a flicker of uncertainty lit her eyes.
"I swear, I wasn't trying to provoke you."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Then be careful. Because even without trying, you're driving me insane."
His gaze lingered, until he caught the faintest curve of a smile tugging at her lips.
"Or maybe... you enjoy this."
She shrugged.
"Maybe I do. But not in public."
A soft smile touched his mouth, his voice rich and deep.
"No, not in public..." His head tilted slightly, eyes tracing her face. "But when we're alone—that's another story, isn't it?"
Auren bit her lip, pretending to consider it.
"Are you saying this just because we're alone? Is that a hint?"
He brushed his fingers lightly against her chin, tilting her gaze upward.
"What do you think?"
Her eyes held his, though a shadow of hesitation flickered within them. Her breath hitched, and he noticed instantly.
His fingers trailed lower, feather-light against her hand, lingering at her wrist. The almost weightless touch stole the air from her lungs.
"You do realize," she whispered, voice tight but daring, "I don't like to lose."
"Then you'd better be careful," he murmured, leaning in until there was barely an inch left between them. "Because in this game, you've already risked too much."
Auren felt his breath, hot and close, and for a second, she believed he truly had her.
But she was Auren Laurent. She never surrendered so easily.
With a swift motion, she slipped from under his arm, taking a step back with a sly smirk.
"You think it's that easy?" Her voice danced with mischief, her eyes sparking dangerously.
Kael narrowed his gaze, studying her.
"No. Nothing is ever easy with you."
She drifted toward the desk, casually adjusted a stack of documents, then in one sharp motion swept them all to the floor. Pages scattered like wild white petals.
Kael crossed his arms, watching her with clear intrigue.
"Another challenge?"
Auren stepped back, lips curving into a wicked smile.
"More like a reminder—that you're not the only one who knows how to play."
She spun toward the door—but froze. The only way out was past Kael, who stood directly in front of it.
His smirk deepened as realization struck her.
"Poor strategy, Auren."
She turned sharply, her back against the desk, but he was already moving forward, closing in fast.
"And now?" His voice was calm, but fire blazed in his eyes.
Auren lifted her chin, hiding her nerves beneath a mask of defiance.
"Now I'll find a new move."
He leaned closer, hands planted on either side of her, caging her in.
"You don't have much time," he murmured, his voice low, dangerous.
Her smile was steady, but her heart was racing faster than she wanted to admit.
"Then we'll see who's quicker."
Auren knew she was caught in a trap, but retreat wasn't in her nature. Her eyes locked on his, unflinching.
"And what's your next move?" he asked softly, mockery threading through his tone.
Her lips curved in a small, dangerous smile.
"You'll find out—if you can't stop me."
A heartbeat later, she darted to the side. But Kael was faster. He caught her wrist, twisting her back toward him with practiced ease.
"Fast," he murmured, smirking down at her. "But not fast enough."
Auren tensed under his grip, then straightened, her voice cool.
"You really think you've won already?"
He said nothing, but his stare grew sharper as he leaned in, close enough that his breath brushed her skin.
"I think..." His words stretched, heavy with intent. "You're just trying to hide your reaction."
Auren rolled her eyes, though her chest still hammered.
"Don't flatter yourself, Kael."
But he didn't step back. His grip loosened, but he still held her wrist.
"Then why are you blushing?"
Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she looked away, caught. Kael's smirk told her he'd seen it.
She straightened, moving in closer until barely an inch separated them.
"Or maybe you're just watching me too closely."
His smile was slow, wicked.
"Maybe."
Silence stretched, thick and electric. One more step and the tension would snap.
But she didn't take it. Instead, Auren lifted her hand, her fingers gliding up his tie.
Kael's eyes tracked every movement, but he didn't stop her.
"A new move?" His voice was hushed.
Her smile was sharp, her eyes locked on his.
"Just a reminder that the game isn't over."
Before he could react, she released his tie, straightened, and shifted his arm off the desk with a deft push of her elbow. In one smooth motion, she slipped through the gap she had created.
He turned toward her, surprised, but she was already standing at his side, composed, as if she'd chosen her exit all along.
Her lips curved in a sly smile.
"Fast... but still not fast enough."
And before Kael could say another word, she turned and headed straight for the door.