The email came through late Friday evening, just as Aria was about to shut down her laptop and escape the office for the weekend.
*Subject: Urgent Business Trip*
*Ms. Morgan,*
*Pack your bags. We leave for Chicago tomorrow at 7 a.m. to meet with Luxe Cosmetics. This is your chance to prove you can handle more than just office arguments. Don't be late.*
* - Ethan Blackwood*
Aria stared at the screen, her stomach doing a flip. A business trip? With *him*? She could already feel the tension brewing, but she couldn't deny the opportunity. This was her chance to show Ethan - and herself - that she belonged at Blackwood Enterprises.
The next morning, she arrived at the airport in a tailored navy suit, her hair pulled into a sleek ponytail and a carry-on bag slung over her shoulder. Ethan was already there, looking infuriatingly impeccable in a charcoal-gray suit and a crisp white shirt. His eyes flicked over her as she approached, and she swore she saw the faintest hint of approval in his gaze.
"You're on time," he said, his tone neutral. "I'm impressed."
"Don't get used to it," she replied, matching his dry tone.
The flight was uneventful at first. They sat in first class, Ethan engrossed in his laptop while Aria reviewed her notes for the meeting. But as the hours passed, the silence between them grew heavier, charged with unspoken tension.
Finally, Ethan closed his laptop and turned to her. "You're quiet. Nervous?"
"Not at all," she said, though her racing heart betrayed her. "Just focused."
He raised an eyebrow. "You're going to need more than focus to impress Luxe. They're not easily swayed."
"Good thing I'm not easily intimidated," she shot back, meeting his gaze head-on.
The corner of his mouth twitched, and for a moment, she thought he might smile. But then he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, almost intimate tone. "You know, Aria, for someone who claims not to be intimidated, you sure do argue a lot."
Her breath hitched, but she refused to look away. "Maybe I just enjoy keeping you on your toes."
His eyes darkened, and she could feel the heat of his gaze like a physical touch. "Careful," he murmured. "You might get more than you bargained for."
The plane hit a patch of turbulence just then, jolting them both. Aria's hand flew to the armrest, and Ethan's fingers brushed against hers as he steadied himself. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she quickly pulled her hand away, her cheeks flushing.
Ethan leaned back in his seat, his expression unreadable. "You should buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride."
She didn't miss the double meaning in his words.
The rest of the flight passed in a haze of charged glances and veiled remarks. Aria caught Ethan looking at her more than once, his gaze lingering on her lips or the curve of her neck. Each time, she felt a thrill of excitement mixed with frustration. He was infuriating, arrogant, and impossible to read - but she couldn't deny the magnetic pull between them.
When they landed in Chicago, the tension between them was palpable. As they made their way to the hotel, Ethan's hand brushed against hers, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"You're staying in the room next to mine," he said as they stepped into the elevator. "In case you need anything."
"I'll be fine," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
He turned to face her, his eyes searching hers. "Will you?"
The elevator doors opened before she could respond, and they stepped out into the hallway. Ethan walked her to her door, his presence overwhelming in the confined space.
"Get some rest," he said, his voice low. "Tomorrow's a big day."
"I know," she replied, her heart pounding.
For a moment, they just stood there, the air between them thick with unspoken desire. Then Ethan turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the doorway, her mind racing.
As she closed the door behind her, Aria leaned against it, trying to steady her breathing. This trip was supposed to be about proving herself, about showing Ethan she could handle the pressure. But as much as she hated to admit it, there was more at stake now.
The tension between them was no longer just professional.
And she wasn't sure she could resist it.