The irresistible power

arely returned to her usual routine before Ethan's presence began to seep into her thoughts once again. His

she was reviewing documents in he

t again? There's something I

but the idea of seeing him again filled her with an unfamiliar nervousness. She had always been in control, always the one ca

quick reply: "

out tomorrow? I know it's short notice,

't afford distractions-not with the business deals and commitments she had to manage. But deep down, she knew this was more than j

dressed with precision, wearing a sleek black dress that hinted at her confidence, her ambition. But today, she felt different. She wasn'

dy waiting for her by the door of his office, h

tinge of warmth that sent a shiver down her spine.

e. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished floor, but her mind was focused on Ethan. Sh

hts of the city below twinkled like a sea of stars. He gestured fo

in her lap, trying to keep her composure. "

ween her and the skyline. "It's not just bu

eyebrow. "No

o tell you... something personal." He hesitated, like the words were stuck, reluctan

ady to," she said gently. She wasn't sure why she said it, but a part of her wanted to eas

hold back something that was threatening to break free. "I don't even k

ravado now, no mask. Just Ethan. Vulnerable. Honest. For a brief moment,

he said, her voice

aggage. Personal stuff. Things from my past that... well, that I don't know how to deal with. I've always kept my distance from people

hest. She hadn't expected him to open up this much-hadn't expected him to let her

quieter now. There was something raw in his vulnerability that made h

Lily. I've been burned too many times. People are always looking for somethi

ace between them, reaching out to gently rest on his. The contact was small, but

er words holding more weight th

r between them was thick with unspoken feelings,

was broken by a sudden knock at the door. Ethan pulled his han

is voice returning to i

carrying a briefcase. His presence was immediate, and the ro

Ethan straightened in his chair, his expression

said, standing up from her s

r conversation hung in the air like a cloud b

me. Ethan was already absorbed in the business matters in front of him, but t

yet, but she knew one thing for sure: Ethan Stone wasn't just another billionaire. He was someone who needed her, whether he realized it

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