The office had never felt so suffocating. Outside, the city lights seemed to waver against the glass, but Lia barely noticed. Every shadow inside seemed to twitch, every creak of the building echoing like a warning. Her hands were shaking a little as she clutched the edge of her desk, trying to still the racing heart.
Leo stood across the room, leaning against his desk, arms crossed, his jaw tight. His gaze was sharp and calculating—but there was something beneath it she couldn't quite name: concern, and perhaps… something else. Lia's stomach twisted. Their eyes met, and the air between them ignited. Words weren't necessary; every glance, every pause, carried a thousand unspoken thoughts.
"You can't let fear control you," Leo said finally, his voice low and commanding. "Not now. Every move counts."
"I'm not afraid," Lia said, using her best effort at sounding confident. "I just… I don't know; I can't stop thinking about what happens if Vanessa or whoever is behind this manages to get ahead of us."
He pushed off the desk and walked closer, shrinking the space between them. The heat emanating from his body became suffocating, spiking her pulse. "Then don't think," he whispered. "Act. Trust me to handle the rest."
Her chest constricted, heart racing. Every instinct screamed at her to move closer, to reach out, to allow herself to feel what she'd been resisting for weeks. But danger hovered beyond these office walls, and she knew one wrong step could be disastrous.
Her laptop suddenly beeped, jolting her back. There was a new encrypted message staring at her screen:
"They know you're close. One wrong move, and it's over."
Lia's hands shook as she read the words. She looked at Leo, who had darkened into a mask of controlled fury. "They're watching us," he said in a tight, low voice. "And they're smarter than we thought."
Her heart was racing. This wasn't a corporate battle; it was a personal one, dangerous and frighteningly close.
Leo reached for her hand, clasping it tightly and anchoring her with himself in the storm of adrenaline and terror. "Stay close," he whispered. "Whatever happens, I won't let anyone—
Before he had even finished speaking, the office door burst open with a loud clang. Lia froze, eyes wide. Leo's protective stance sharpened.