The gala was over, but the adrenaline still clung to Amara like a second skin. She had expected exhaustion after the long evening, yet every moment with Dante left her senses on edge.
"You can leave," Dante said as they stepped into the quiet of the elevator, his tone casual but commanding. "Or… stay and finish reviewing tomorrow's agenda with me."
Amara hesitated. Part of her wanted to retreat, to put a safe distance between them. But another, more reckless part of her—the part that had been drawn to him since the first glance—nodded. "I'll stay."
The ride up to his office was silent, filled only with the hum of the elevator. When the doors opened, Dante stepped aside, letting her in first. The office was dimly lit, the city lights casting long shadows across the room.
"You're eager," he said, closing the door behind them. "But eagerness can be dangerous."
Amara's pulse quickened. "I… I want to do well," she whispered.
He moved closer, slow, deliberate. His presence was suffocating yet thrilling, leaving her heart racing. "Good," he murmured, his voice low and almost intimate. "Because the next part of your training… will test more than just skill."
Her stomach tightened. She couldn't tell if he meant mentally, emotionally… or something else entirely.
Dante handed her the tablet with the agenda, but his eyes never left hers. Every brush of his hand as she took it made her fingers tingle. Every step he took toward the desk drew a shiver she couldn't control.
"You'll learn quickly that in my world," he said, voice softer now, "attention to detail isn't just about business. It's about understanding… people. And understanding me is… complicated."
Amara swallowed hard. His gaze was heavy, intimate, almost daring her to step closer without permission. "I'll try," she said, though she knew "trying" might not be enough.
He smiled, a shadow of something dangerous, something magnetic. "Good. Because once you cross this line, Amara… there's no turning back."
The office felt smaller, charged with anticipation, tension, and desire. Amara realized she wasn't just drawn to Dante's power—she was drawn to him, entirely, willingly… and perhaps recklessly.