Chapter 5 Unspoken moments II

Jake was known for reading people, it was how he built his empire. But Lily was a contradiction. There was vulnerability in the way she glanced at the art experts, her fingers twitching at her sides like she wanted to hide them. But there was also strength, a quiet kind, the kind that made him wonder how many times she had stood alone and still refused to break. When she reached his side, his entire body was aware of her. She smelled like paint and something faintly floral, and for a second, he had the insane urge to lean closer just enough to memorize the scent.

Instead, he forced his attention back to the room. "This is Lily Collins," he said, his voice firm, steady. The meeting started, but Jake and Lily both knew something between them had already changed. The air was different, the stakes were higher, and neither of them realized just how much their worlds had already begun to collide.

The air in the conference room was thick with tension. Not the kind Jake McDernaunt was used to, the kind that came with high-stakes deals, power plays, and boardroom dominance. This was something else. Something unspoken, something pulling at him in ways he couldn't quite define, and it all revolved around her.....Lily Collins. She stood beside him, small compared to the grandeur of his office, yet somehow commanding all of his attention. She shouldn't have. She shouldn't have been the thing that pulled his focus when he was surrounded by some of the most respected art experts in the industry. But she was, and it was messing with his head.

Lily thought "I'm not supposed to be here, standing in a gleaming, intimidating office where billion-dollar decisions were made", and it was true. But more than that she wasn't supposed to be standing next to Jake McDernaunt. Yet here she was, and worse? The longer she stood beside him, the harder it became to ignore the pull between them. She had been hyper-aware of him since she stepped into the room. His presence was overwhelming, even when he wasn't speaking.

The way his suit fit perfectly, the way his jaw clenched whenever the experts questioned her, the way his dark eyes seemed to watch her more than anyone else in the room. It made her heart race in a way that had nothing to do with the scandal which was ridiculous. Because Jake McDernaunt wasn't for someone like her. He belonged here in this world of power and influence, where people carried themselves with entitlement and certainty. She belonged in a tiny art studio, in a world of colors and solitude. She had nothing in common with him. And yet...

The moment their eyes met, she felt it again. That strange, undeniable connection, and she knew, without a doubt He felt it too.

Jake knew he needed to focus. This meeting was about clearing Lily's name, about ensuring that the accusation against her didn't destroy her career before it had even begun. But instead of paying attention to the conversation, his mind was caught in an entirely different battle. The battle of not looking at her too much. Not noticing the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, or how her lips pressed together whenever she was nervous. Not catching the faint smell of paint and something sweet that clung to her. Not wanting to stand just a little closer, to tell her privately, without an audience that he believed in her. It was frustrating. Women had never been a distraction for him.

Not even Carmela, who had been as calculating as she was beautiful.

But Lily? She wasn't trying to distract him. She wasn't trying to do anything except survive this moment, and somehow, that made her the most dangerous woman in his world. Because she didn't even realize the effect she had on him, and Jake wasn't sure how much longer he could ignore it.

The conversation in the room dragged on, experts analyzing Lost Horizons, questioning the resemblance to Eternal Twilight, but neither Jake nor Lily were really listening. Because something was happening between them. Something unspoken, yet undeniable, something neither of them were ready to name. Then, a sudden silence pulled them both back into reality. Jake forced himself to turn his focus away from Lily, to listen as one of the experts, a sharp-featured man in glasses, spoke. "It's a remarkable piece. But the resemblance to Eternal Twilight, the stolen work from the Archenwald Gallery raises questions. It's not something we can ignore."

But just as he did, he saw it, Lily's hands trembling slightly at her sides. She was holding it together, but barely. She said shakily "I swear, I didn't copy anything. I painted it from my imagination."

Without thinking, Jake moved closer, just enough so their arms almost brushed. Just enough to make sure she felt him there, and when she glanced up at him, her eyes full of uncertainty, he gave her a small, warm nod. A silent promise "I'm here, You're not alone".

"We're not accusing you," a woman with kind eyes said gently. "But the similarities are striking. Do you have sketches, photos, or any proof of your process?"

"I do," Lily said, her voice trembling. "They're back at my studio."

Jake spoke up "We'll get them. Lily's an incredible artist, and I trust her completely. If this painting looks like something stolen, it's a coincidence." The way he said it, the way he stood beside her, as if daring anyone to question her presence sent a wave of unexpected relief through her. He believed her. She wasn't alone. And for the first time since the gallery scandal began... She felt like she had a chance.

The room fell silent as the experts exchanged skeptical glances.

One of the experts finally spoke. "Without clear evidence, rumors will spread. And if word gets out, the media won't be kind."

Although the meeting ended on an uncertain note, to Jake, Lily was no longer a small town girl that can be bullied. She was his priority now. And Jake McDernaunt didn't lose the things he fought for