The leather seats were butter soft, the faint hum of the city muted behind tinted glass. Lena sat rigid, hands clasped tight in her lap. Nathaniel Cross lounged beside her, every inch the predator in a tailored suit, watching her like she'd already agreed to the hunt.
"You're tense," he said, voice low.
"Maybe because I don't make a habit of stepping into cars with men who treat business like a chess match."
"Correction." His gaze pinned her. "I don't play chess. I play to win."
"And what exactly are you trying to win with me?"
Nathaniel didn't answer right away. He leaned back, studying her like a puzzle. "You're sharp, not afraid to stand your ground. I like that. Most people fold when I press them."
"I'm not most people."
"No," he agreed softly. "You're not."
His words unsettled her more than threats ever could. The car rolled forward, headlights washing the streets in silence.
Lena forced her tone steady. "If you brought me in here to flirt, I'll get out now."
Nathaniel's laugh was quick, unexpected. "Flirt? No. Flirting is for amateurs. What I'm offering is survival."
Her pulse jumped. "Survival?"
"Arcadia is drowning, Lena. You know it. I know it. One wrong move, one bad quarter, and the company collapses. And you? You go down with it."
Her nails dug into her palm, but she kept her voice calm. "That's why we signed with Cross Enterprises. For stability."
"That's why I chose you," he corrected.
She blinked. "Chose me?"
He leaned closer, eyes like steel. "Do you think it's an accident you're the one in that conference room? That I let you present?"
Lena swallowed hard. She'd thought she was fighting her way in on her own merit. Now he was telling her she'd been maneuvered there.
"You need to understand something." His tone sharpened, "This isn't about paperwork. This isn't about Arcadia, This is about leverage. And right now, you are mine."
The car slowed at a traffic light, neon spilling through the window and painting his face in sharp lines.
"Is that a threat?" she whispered.
"It's a fact." His mouth curved, not unkind, but dangerous. "The sooner you accept it, the easier this will be."
She forced herself to meet his stare. "And what exactly is this?"
Nathaniel let the silence drag, deliberate. His hand tapped once against his thigh, measured, controlled.
"Terms," he said finally. "The rules of how we move forward."
Her chest tightened. He was reeling her in, strand by strand, and she knew it. But walking away felt impossible.
"You think you can control me?" she asked quietly.
His smile was razor sharp. "Not control. Contain. There's a difference."
The car eased to a stop outside her apartment building. Nathaniel didn't move to open the door. Instead, he tilted his head, studying her one last time.
"You should rest," he said softly. "Tomorrow, everything changes."
Lena's pulse thundered. "You can't just say things like that and expect me to sleep."
Nathaniel's smile deepened. "Then don't sleep. Think about what you're willing to risk. Think about what you're willing to lose."
The door clicked open. Cool night air rushed in. She hesitated, every nerve on edge.
"Goodnight, Lena."
Her legs finally obeyed, carrying her onto the sidewalk. The car pulled away, taillights vanishing into the dark.
Lena stood frozen, heart pounding, the city spinning around her. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring. Only that Nathaniel Cross had set the board and she was already playing his game.