Chapter 9 Dangerous Affection

Elara was back in the Grayson Enterprises penthouse, the glow of Milan still flickering behind her eyelids. But what she felt from the trip was rapidly fading.

She sat at the kitchen island, flipping through a manila envelope that had arrived in unmarked packaging earlier that morning. No note. No sender.

Inside were printed photos.

Her and Asher... in Milan.

Him standing too close. Her hand lingering on his sleeve. The almost-kiss by the window. Someone had been watching them-closely.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: You're good at playing the part. Too good. Careful not to fall for the wrong man.

Her blood turned to ice.

She called Asher immediately.

"I'll be there in five," he said, voice clipped.

Seven minutes later, Asher arrived, storming through the front door, jaw tense, coat flying behind him like a storm.

"Show me the envelope."

Elara slid it toward him silently.

He flipped through the photos. Then read the text. His eyes darkened.

"Someone's been watching us," she said quietly.

"I'll have security trace the package," he muttered, already texting. "And I want you to stay out of the public eye for a few days."

"I can't just hide, Asher."

He looked up sharply. "It's not hiding. It's staying alive. Do you understand?"

Her breath caught.

"You think this is dangerous?"

"I think someone's trying to threaten what they believe I care about."

There was no smirk now. No arrogance. Just raw, unfiltered concern.

She swallowed hard. "And what do you care about?"

He didn't answer.

But he took a step forward and gently ran his thumb along the back of her hand.

Then he turned away and made more calls.

Three days later, the paparazzi had died down, the mysterious photos no longer mentioned in the press. But another storm was brewing-this one with sharper nails and a sharper smile.

Luciana.

She showed up at Grayson Tower unannounced, strutting past security like she still belonged there.

Asher was in a board meeting. Elara was on her way out of the building when their paths collided.

"Oh," Luciana said with faux surprise. "Still playing wife, I see."

Elara smiled tightly. "Still playing important, I see."

Luciana's eyes narrowed. "Do you really think you can hold his attention for so long?"

"I'm not trying to hold anything."

"That's your first mistake."

Elara stepped closer, calm but sharp. "You can try to rattle me. But while you're busy clinging to the past, he's looking at me like I'm his future."

Luciana's lip curled. "Enjoy your fairy tale. Just don't forget-he was mine first. And I don't lose."

Elara didn't flinch. "Neither do I."

That night, Asher returned home late. Elara was already seated in the living room, sipping tea, her phone beside her.

He loosened his tie and dropped onto the couch.

"You saw her," he said flatly.

"I did."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize for your past," she said. "But I won't be bullied by it."

He looked at her, admiration flickering beneath fatigue.

"She wants to get under your skin," he said. "But she doesn't know how strong you are."

"She's trying to make me feel like a placeholder."

"And you're not."

Her heart stilled.

He stood and walked over to her. "You're not a fill-in. You're not a cover. You're... you."

"And that scares you."

"Terrifies me."

She reached up and touched his chest lightly. "Then why are we still pretending we're not falling?"

He didn't answer with words.

He leaned down slowly and kissed her.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't an accident.

It was real.

And it set both their hearts on fire.

The kiss deepened slowly-tentative yet charged, like the moment before thunder.

Then Asher pulled back, forehead resting against hers, breathing hard.

"I don't want to ruin this," he whispered.

"You're not."

"This was supposed to be simple."

She cupped his cheek. "We passed simple a long time ago."

He kissed her again-softer this time, like he was memorizing the feel of her.

Then he rested his hand against her side, eyes closing.

"I'm not just good at this," he admitted.

"At what?"

"Letting someone in."

She smiled faintly. "Then it's a good thing I already snuck in."

Two days later, security confirmed the package was sent from a drop location with no CCTV-clearly intentional.

But it wasn't the only one.

This time, it was a USB drive delivered to Grayson's tech office. Inside were surveillance clips from hidden cameras... footage from their Milan suite.

The angle? Their hotel window.

Someone had bugged the room.

This was no tabloid game.

It was a warning.

And someone wanted Elara gone.

Asher sat in his office, hand clenched around the USB.

"She's in danger," he said to his head of security. "And this time... I don't care about optics. I care about her."