Chapter 4 Unspoken Tension

Ari Carter walked into the meeting room, bracing herself for yet another day of dealing with the insufferable Sebastian Hayes.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she set her files down on the polished conference table. She couldn't ignore the familiar tightening in her chest, the pull that seemed to always surface whenever he was around. Sebastian was a force of nature-charismatic, successful, and far too attractive for his own good.

The moment she glanced up, her eyes collided with his. His intense gaze swept over her, and she felt an electric spark shoot through her. She quickly turned away, shaking her head as if to dismiss the feeling.

"Miss Carter," Sebastian's voice broke through her thoughts, cool and steady. "Shall we begin?"

She clenched her jaw. "Let's get this over with, Mr. Hayes."

He smirked at her response, clearly unfazed by her attitude. "Always a pleasure," he said, his words smooth as silk.

The tension between them was palpable, and neither of them acknowledged it. It was an unspoken understanding-a war of wills, each trying to maintain control.

As the meeting went on, Ari couldn't ignore the constant pull of Sebastian's presence. She was focused, sharp, and knew what she was doing. Yet, every time their eyes met, there was a fleeting moment where something shifted.

A brush of fingers as they exchanged a document. A lingering glance when she spoke. She tried to shake it off, but the tension was there, growing stronger with each passing minute.

Sebastian's voice cut through her thoughts again. "You're distracted today, Miss Carter."

She narrowed her eyes, refusing to show any weakness. "I'm not distracted."

"Good," he replied, his tone laced with amusement. "Let's keep it that way, shall we?"

Her breath hitched for a split second before she composed herself. "Of course."

But deep down, she knew that this-whatever this was-was far from over.

Later that evening, Ari sat in her car, staring blankly at the headlights of the cars ahead. The drive home felt longer than usual, the night air too thick, as if something was closing in.

She couldn't stop thinking about Sebastian-about the way he looked at her, the way he challenged her. Every part of her wanted to push him away, to pretend there was nothing there. But she knew it wasn't that simple.

There was a spark. A dangerous, irresistible spark. And no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she couldn't escape it.

She pressed the accelerator, determined to get home and forget about it all. But deep down, she knew that this was just the beginning.

Her phone buzzed just as she entered her apartment. Without thinking, she answered it.

"Ari," Sebastian's voice came through, smooth and commanding. "I need to see you tomorrow. First thing."

Ari frowned, glancing at the clock. It was late. "Why?"

"Personal business," he said, his tone unreadable. "We'll discuss it in the morning. Be prepared."

Before she could respond, he hung up.

Her heart raced in her chest. What could he want now? She didn't have time for whatever game he was playing, but something about his call left her restless.

The next morning, Ari stood before him in his office, every inch of her screaming to walk away. But there was something magnetic about him. She couldn't deny it.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.

Sebastian didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I need your help with a project. It's urgent."

Ari raised an eyebrow. "You could have assigned someone else."

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "I want you, Ari."

Her breath caught in her throat. She was used to his confidence, but there was something different in his voice today. A challenge. A silent dare.

"What makes you think I'll help you?" she asked, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside her.

"Because you can't resist," he replied, his lips curling into a slow smile.

The words hung in the air between them, loaded with meaning.

Sebastian's proposal was simple, yet there was an undercurrent of something deeper beneath the surface. He wanted her to work closely with him on a high-stakes project that would determine the future of the company.

It was an opportunity she couldn't pass up, no matter how much she hated the idea of working so closely with him. But the more she thought about it, the more the undeniable pull between them seemed to overshadow everything else.

"I'll help you," she said, her voice low. "But we need to set some ground rules. No personal distractions."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And if we break them?"

"Then we both walk away," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, trying to maintain control.

Sebastian stood up, closing the distance between them. His presence was overwhelming. "We both know that's not going to happen."

She inhaled sharply, the heat between them growing stronger. "We'll see."

As the days passed, Ari found herself working late with Sebastian more than she cared to admit. Their meetings were intense, focused, and undeniably productive. But there was always that lingering tension, an unspoken force pulling them closer even as they tried to keep their distance.

One night, after a particularly grueling meeting, Ari found herself standing by the window of Sebastian's office, staring out at the city below.

"You're quiet tonight," Sebastian said, his voice cutting through

Ari turned to face him, surprised to find him standing much closer than she had expected. She could feel the heat from his body radiating toward hers.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice tight. "Just tired."

He studied her for a moment, his gaze intense. "You're lying."

"I'm not," she replied, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay composed.

Sebastian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, his hand brushing lightly against her arm. The simple touch sent a jolt through her.

"You're not fine, Ari," he whispered, his face only inches from hers. "But you will be."

The next evening, Sebastian invited her to dinner, though neither of them ever acknowledged it as a date. They were still fighting the inevitable pull between them.

Dinner was quiet at first, the clinking of silverware and the soft hum of the restaurant filling the silence. Ari tried to focus on her food, but Sebastian's eyes were constantly on her.

"You're quiet tonight," he said, his voice teasing.

"I'm not," she shot back, unable to keep the edge from her tone. "I'm just eating."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower. "You don't have to pretend with me, Ari. We both know what this is."

She froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. "I don't know what you mean."

His gaze never wavered, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "You're attracted to me."

She set her fork down. "That's not true."

"Oh, but it is," he whispered, leaning closer. "And the more you deny it, the stronger it gets."

After dinner, they found themselves alone in the parking lot. Ari wasn't sure how it happened, but somehow, Sebastian was standing in front of her, his hand resting lightly on her waist.

"I shouldn't want this," Ari whispered, her breath shaky. "But I do."

Sebastian's expression softened for the briefest of moments before his lips curved into a confident smirk. "You're not the only one."

His hand slid around her back, pulling her close. Their faces were so close now, their breaths mingling in the cool night air.

"I'm not sure what I want," she murmured.

"You'll figure it out," he replied, before closing the distance between them with a kiss that set her world on fire.

Ari pulled back, her heart racing in her chest. She couldn't deny the heat, the undeniable connection between them. But this-this was dangerous.

"What now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sebastian's eyes were dark with desire. "Now, we figure out how far we're willing to go."