Chapter 5 Crossing the line

Chapter 5: Crossing the Line

Celina barely slept. By the time the sun peeked over the Montgomery skyline, she was already at her desk, running on caffeine and sheer determination. Every move Jake made felt like a calculated attempt to throw her off balance-but if he thought she'd break, he didn't know her at all.

By noon, she had fine-tuned the Kingsley proposal into something airtight. Mia popped her head into the office, holding a fresh folder. "I pulled the financial projections for Kingsley's last three quarters. It might give you an edge."

Celina smiled gratefully. "You're a lifesaver. Let's crush him."

Mia laughed. "I live to serve."

As the clock inched toward the afternoon meeting, Celina's stomach twisted with a mix of nerves and anticipation. She wouldn't let Jake win-not this time.

---

The Kingsley boardroom was sleek and intimidating. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked downtown, while polished marble gleamed beneath Celina's stilettos. The air hummed with quiet tension as she and Jake faced off across the long mahogany table.

Jake leaned back in his chair, exuding that effortless confidence she both hated and couldn't stop noticing. Today, he wore charcoal gray-sharper than usual-and his dark hair fell just slightly out of place in a way that shouldn't have been distracting. But it was.

"Shall we begin?" Mr. Kingsley prompted, folding his hands on the table.

Celina launched into her pitch, her voice smooth and unwavering. She laid out her firm's strategic vision with surgical precision-every point backed by ironclad data. She saw the flicker of something in Jake's expression-a rare flash of surprise-and satisfaction curled in her chest.

When she finished, Jake wasted no time taking his turn. His voice was like silk over steel-calm, persuasive, maddeningly composed. Worse, his analysis was razor-sharp. He anticipated every angle, every counterpoint, and delivered it with an easy charm that made even cold hard numbers sound appealing.

By the time he finished, the air crackled with unspoken challenge.

"Well," Mr. Kingsley mused, exchanging a glance with his advisors. "I must say, this is one of the most compelling presentations we've had in a long time."

Celina forced herself to smile, despite the knot of frustration tightening inside her. Jake was too good-dangerously good.

As the meeting adjourned, Jake caught her by the elevator. "Nice pitch, Monroe," he drawled. "Almost had me worried."

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't get comfortable. This isn't over."

He stepped closer-too close. The air between them grew thick. "You're right. It's not."

For a breathless moment, she couldn't move. His gaze dipped to her lips-quick, almost imperceptible-but her heart thudded in response. She refused to be the first to back down.

"You should worry," she said coolly, stepping into the elevator. "Because when I win, you'll never hear the end of it."

The doors slid shut, but the heat of his presence lingered long after.

---

That night, Catherine insisted on a girls' night. "You're too wound up," she said, dragging Celina to a rooftop bar. "And I'm sick of watching you obsess over Jake."

"I'm not obsessing," Celina protested, though the words rang hollow.

"Sure," Catherine smirked, handing her a glass of rosé. "You just happen to know his schedule, his strategy, and the way he-"

"Don't finish that sentence," Celina warned.

Catherine laughed, but her tone softened. "You know, it's okay if there's something else going on here."

"There isn't," Celina insisted. "It's just business."

But as much as she wanted to believe that, the memory of Jake's gaze lingered-dark, heated, and far too tempting.

---

The next morning, Celina arrived early to finalize the proposal. She was mid-way through reviewing projections when a knock sounded at her office door.

Jake.

Of course it was Jake.

He leaned against the frame, holding two cups of coffee. "Thought you could use a refill," he said, offering one.

She eyed him warily. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," he said smoothly. "I figured if I'm going to beat you, I may as well keep you awake."

"You're awfully cocky for someone who hasn't won yet."

He chuckled, stepping inside. "Is it cocky if it's true?"

Her pulse jumped as he came closer, and for once, she let herself meet his gaze without the usual armor. "I'm not losing to you," she said softly.

"I know," he murmured, too close, too warm. "That's what makes this fun."

The air grew charged-an invisible line drawn tighter and tighter. For a moment, neither of them spoke. It was a dangerous game they were playing, and they both knew it.

"I should get back to work," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Right," he agreed, but he didn't move.

Neither did she.

It was her phone buzzing that finally shattered the moment. Celina exhaled sharply, breaking their locked gaze. Jake lingered for a heartbeat longer before stepping back.

"See you at the finish line, Monroe," he said, his voice low and knowing.

When the door clicked shut behind him, Celina slumped against her desk, heart pounding.

She was in trouble.

And for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to fight it.

---

Later that night, Celina found herself alone in her apartment, still wound tight from the day. She poured a glass of wine and tried to push thoughts of Jake from her mind. It didn't work.

The way he'd stood so close-how his voice had dropped to that low, intimate register-was seared into her thoughts. And worse, a small part of her wanted to see just how far they could push each other before something snapped.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Jake.

Still awake, Monroe? Or did I finally exhaust you?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed back:

Not even close. You'll have to try harder.

The reply came faster than she expected.

Careful. I might take that as a challenge.

Her heart pounded as she stared at the screen. She should end this game before it went too far.