The Siren's Contract

anter had ignited a spark of energy that was impossible to ignore. I glanced at the clock and felt a familiar flutter of nerve

head into my office. "Are y

ng an eyebrow. "This is a

th disbelief. "But you know he likes you, ri

lush creeping up my neck. "That's ridiculo

ks at you," she teased, waggling her eyebro

to sound convincing. "It's all about strate

g. "Whatever you say, boss. Just d

my head. "Fun is overrate

he replied, flashing me a wink be

erything. Adrian was a competent businessman, and I needed to focus on our partner

oor, and my heart raced. Aiden stepped in, looking effortlessly polished in a gray suit that emphasized his bro

ked, leaning casually

," I replied, trying t

nearby. They have the best pasta in the

, Italians?" I quipped,

ack, winking. "I'll bring the wine

? Quite the combination," I

treets were bustling with people, and I couldn't help but notice how heads turned as ad

y," He said as we settled into a co

rian seemed genuinely interested. "I started this company because I wanted to create something that m

in. "You're not just a business

arned, though I couldn't help th

m just stating the truth," he said, u

t of my ambitions. "I want people to remember me

in his eyes. "That's a powerful motivation. You're no

connection forming that I hadn't antici

a suit," he said, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his tone.

admitted. "We all ha

or making me feel at ease, even as I tried to keep my guard up. But beneath the humour and sa

he said, leaning closer. "Wh

ths open," I replied without mi

ead. "So, I take it you've nev

don't plan to start now," I

is hands up in mock surrender. "I'll keep my mouth

er of embarrassment lingered in my chest. "Let's n

"Right. But if I'm being honest, I'd like

me off guard, and I felt a rush o

people getting to know each other outside of the off

dy to let anyone in, especially not someone who had already infiltrated my th

e earnest. "But we could keep it casual. Just two profess

r and my desire to maintain my independence. "I'll think abou

hat I'll be waiting," he

There was an unspoken tension in the air, a realizatio

arming, intelligent, and annoyingly attractive. But as we walked side by side, I couldn't shake the

ot me a knowing look as we e

ng to sound nonchalant, but the blus

ness," she teased,

. I had let Aiden in, even if just a little, and now the idea of him bec

the beginning of something much bigger. Adrian was a storm on the