Chapter 5 Lines Blurred

Evie spent the next few days working tirelessly on the revisions Alex had requested. She told herself it was just another project, that she could keep things strictly professional. But every time she thought about him his piercing gaze, the way his voice had sent shivers down her spine she felt her resolve waver.

She was in her small apartment, hunched over her laptop, when her phone buzzed. It was a text from Alex.

Alex: I need to see the revisions before the meeting tomorrow. Can you come to my office tonight?

Evie stared at the screen, her heart racing. Going to his office at night felt like crossing a line, but she couldn't exactly say no. Not when he was her client.

Evie: Sure. What time?

Alex: 7 PM.

She sighed, glancing at the clock. It was already 6:30. She quickly changed into something more professional a fitted blouse and tailored trousers and grabbed her laptop before heading out the door.

The Knight Enterprises building was a towering glass structure in the heart of Manhattan, its sleek design a testament to Alex's success. Evie had been here a few times now, but it still took her breath away. She checked in at the front desk and took the elevator up to the top floor, where Alex's office was located.

The receptionist smiled as she approached. "Mr. Knight is expecting you. Go right in."

Evie nodded, her stomach churning as she walked toward the double doors at the end of the hall. She knocked softly before pushing them open.

Alex was seated at his desk, his attention focused on the papers in front of him. He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable.

"Evie," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course," she said, forcing a polite smile. "I have the revisions here."

She set her laptop on his desk and opened the file, explaining the changes she'd made. Alex listened intently, his gaze flickering between the screen and her face.

"Good," he said when she finished. "But there's one more thing."

He stood, walking around the desk to stand beside her. He leaned in, his shoulder brushing against hers as he pointed to a section of the design. "This needs to be more prominent. Can you adjust it?"

Evie's breath caught, her heart pounding as she felt the heat of his body so close to hers. "Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can do that."

He straightened, his gaze lingering on her face. "Good."

For a moment, they just stood there, the air between them thick with tension. Then Alex stepped back, his expression unreadable. "I'll let you work," he said, returning to his seat.

Evie nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she made the adjustments. She could feel his eyes on her, and it made her skin tingle. She finished quickly, saving the file and closing her laptop.

"Done," she said, standing.

Alex stood as well, walking her to the door. "Thank you, Evie," he said, his voice low. "You've done excellent work."

She nodded, her heart racing as she met his gaze. "Thank you."

He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something more, but then he simply nodded. "Goodnight, Evie."

"Goodnight," she said, stepping out into the hall.

The next day, Evie presented the final revisions to the design team. Alex was there again, his presence like a physical weight in the room. She did her best to ignore him, focusing on the task at hand.

When she finished, there was a moment of silence before Alex spoke.

"Excellent work," he said, his tone unreadable. "I'm impressed."

Evie felt a flush of pride, but it was quickly overshadowed by the intensity of his gaze. "Thank you," she said, forcing a polite smile.

The meeting ended shortly after, and Evie gathered her things, eager to escape. But as she was leaving, Alex stopped her.

"Evie," he said, his voice low. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

She hesitated, then nodded. "Of course."

He led her to a small conference room, closing the door behind them. For a moment, they just stood there, the tension between them palpable.

"I wanted to thank you," he said finally. "For your hard work on this project."

"It's my job," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside her.

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her face. "Still. You've exceeded my expectations."

Evie's breath caught, her heart pounding as she met his gaze. "Thank you," she said softly.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air between them charged with unspoken words. Then Alex stepped closer, his voice dropping to a murmur.

"Evie," he said, his tone raw with emotion. "I can't stop thinking about you."

Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. "Alex," she whispered, her voice trembling.

He reached out, cupping her face in his hand. "Tell me I'm not the only one," he said, his voice rough with need.

She hesitated, her heart aching with the weight of her feelings. "You're not," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

And then he kissed her.

It was soft at first, a tentative brush of lips that quickly deepened into something more. Evie's hands found their way to his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back, all rational thought fleeing her mind.

The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them, lost in each other. It was reckless, impulsive, and completely unlike her. But in that moment, none of that mattered. All that mattered was the way he made her feel alive, wanted, seen.