The office felt different when Aria returned on Monday morning. The air was thicker, the silence louder, and every glance from Ethan sent a shiver down her spine. They had agreed - without words - to pretend the kiss never happened. But the memory of it lingered, a ghost between them that neither could ignore.
Aria threw herself into her work, determined to prove that she could handle the pressure. She arrived early, stayed late, and poured every ounce of energy into the Luxe Cosmetics campaign. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling of Ethan's eyes on her.
He was everywhere. At meetings, his gaze would flicker to her, sharp and assessing, before he looked away. In the hallway, he would pass her with a curt nod, his jaw tight, his presence overwhelming. And in the quiet moments, when she thought she was alone, she would catch him watching her from his office, his expression unreadable.
It was maddening.
"You've been quiet lately," Sophie said over lunch, her brow furrowed with concern. "Is everything okay?"
Aria hesitated, stirring her coffee absently. Sophie was her best friend, but she was also Ethan's sister. Confiding in her felt like crossing a line.
"Just work stuff," Aria said finally, forcing a smile. "Ethan's been riding me hard about the Luxe campaign."
Sophie's eyes narrowed. "Be careful with him, Aria. He's… intense. And he doesn't always play fair."
Aria's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
Sophie sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Ethan's always been protective of the people he cares about. But he's also ruthless when it comes to business. If he thinks you're a threat - or a distraction - he won't hesitate to cut you loose."
Aria's chest tightened. Was that what she was to him? A distraction? The thought stung more than she cared to admit.
"I can handle him," she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Sophie gave her a knowing look. "Just promise me you'll be careful. My brother isn't the kind of man you want to get involved with."
Aria nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't stop thinking about the kiss, about the way Ethan's hands had felt on her waist, the way his lips had claimed hers with such raw intensity. It had been a mistake, she told herself. A moment of weakness.
But deep down, she wasn't so sure.
---
Ethan, meanwhile, was struggling to maintain his icy demeanor. The kiss had shaken him more than he cared to admit. He had always prided himself on his self-control, on his ability to keep his emotions in check. But Aria had a way of getting under his skin, of making him feel things he didn't want to feel.
He tried to focus on work, but his thoughts kept drifting to her. To the way her eyes sparkled when she was passionate about an idea. To the way her lips had felt against his, soft and demanding all at once.
It was infuriating.
"Ethan?" Claire's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He looked up, his expression carefully neutral. "Yes?"
"The numbers for the Luxe campaign," she said, holding out a folder. "You wanted to review them before the meeting."
He took the folder, his mind still elsewhere. "Thank you."
Claire hesitated, studying him. "Are you okay? You seem… distracted."
"I'm fine," he said curtly, though the lie tasted bitter on his tongue.
As Claire left, Ethan leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. He needed to get a grip. Aria was his intern, his employee. Whatever had happened between them was a mistake, one he couldn't afford to repeat.
But then she walked past his office, her auburn curls catching the light, and his resolve wavered.
---
The tension between them came to a head during the Luxe campaign meeting. Aria presented her revised idea, her voice steady despite the weight of Ethan's gaze.
"We need to appeal to a younger demographic," she said, her eyes meeting his. "But we can do it without compromising the brand's integrity."
Ethan leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "And how do you propose we do that?"
Aria held his gaze, her chin lifted in defiance. "By focusing on inclusivity and authenticity. By showing that luxury isn't just about price - it's about experience."
The room was silent as she finished, and for a moment, Ethan said nothing. Then he nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes.
"Good," he said, his voice low. "Let's move forward with it."
Aria's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay composed. "Thank you."
As the meeting ended, Ethan caught her arm, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her.
"My office," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
She followed him, her pulse racing. When the door closed behind them, he turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
"You did well today," he said, his voice rough.
"Thank you," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, they just stood there, the air between them thick with tension. Then Ethan stepped closer, his eyes searching hers.
"This can't happen again," he said, though his voice lacked conviction.
"I know," she said, though her body betrayed her, leaning toward him.
He hesitated, his hand brushing against hers. "Aria…"
But before he could say more, she turned and walked out, leaving him standing there, his heart pounding and his resolve crumbling.
The line between them was blurring, and neither of them knew how to stop it.