Chapter 5 LUNCH

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Luca’s face in the dim office light. The way his gaze lingered on my lips, the raw confusion when I questioned him, the quiet promise in his voice: “We’re not done talking about this.”

By morning, my nerves were raw. I arrived at the executive floor earlier than necessary, determined to rebuild my armor before he showed up. But the moment I reached my new desk, the smell hit me first.

Oat milk latte. One shot of vanilla. Extra hot.

The to-go cup sat perfectly centered on my keyboard with no note. Just like yesterday.

My hand trembled slightly as I picked it up. Still warm.

He had done it again.

I took a slow sip, the familiar taste spreading through me like a traitor. Part of me wanted to throw it away. The smarter part knew I needed the caffeine if I was going to survive another day in his orbit.

The morning passed in a controlled storm of work. Luca stayed locked in meetings, but I felt his presence everywhere. in the way Claire kept glancing at me, in the poisonous looks Eva shot whenever our paths crossed.

By late afternoon, the tension in my chest had coiled so tight I could barely breathe.

Then my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered, keeping my voice professional. “Maya Lawson.”

“Miss Lawson, this is Alexander Kane.”

His voice was smooth and warm. “I’ve heard impressive things about your regulatory analysis on the merger. I’d like to invite you to lunch today. Just to discuss the merger.”

Lunch.

My first instinct was to refuse. But Luca’s words from last night kept echoing. The way he had leaned in, the heat in his eyes, the dangerous pull that was already making me question everything.

I needed space.

“I… yes,” I said. “Lunch sounds good.”

“Perfect. I’ll send a car at twelve-thirty.”

When I looked up after the call, Luca was standing in the doorway, watching me with narrowed eyes. He had clearly overheard.

His jaw tightened. “Who was that?”

“Alexander Kane,” I said flatly. “He asked me to lunch today.”

Luca stepped closer, slow and deliberate. The controlled intensity rolled off him in waves, but he didn’t explode. Just a quiet, dark flicker in his gray eyes. Jealousy, restrained but unmistakable.

“You accepted.”

“I did.”

He stopped in front of my desk, towering over me. “Why?”

“Because it’s important to talk with clients, communicate with them, and get their feedback when you’re working on a job for them,” I replied, brows raised..

Something flashed across his face. Frustration mixed with heat. He leaned down, one hand bracing on the desk, bringing his face close enough that I felt the warmth of his breath.

“You think lunch with Kane will get you feedback.”

The words sent an unwelcome shiver through me. Not fear. Anticipation.

He straightened and walked away without another word, leaving me breathless.

The lunch with Kane was exactly what I had hoped for. Easy, professional, no heavy tension. He listened when I spoke, asked smart questions about my work, and never once made me feel like a transaction. For a while, it felt like breathing room.

But halfway through the meal, my phone buzzed.

Unknown: Dates over. Get back to work.

Luca.

My cheeks burned. The possessive words should have angered me. Instead, it sent a dangerous thrill straight through my body.

Kane noticed my distraction and smiled knowingly. “Everything alright?”

“Fine,” I lied.

But it wasn’t fine.

Even sitting across from a man who was calm and everything opposite to my boss, my mind kept drifting back to Luca. The man I was supposed to hate.

I returned to the office just after three, nerves still buzzing. The rest of the afternoon dragged on. By seven-thirty, the executive floor had emptied. I packed my things and headed for the main elevators, desperate to escape the building before I did something reckless.

The doors opened. I stepped inside alone.

Then, just as they began to close, a hand stopped them.

Luca stepped in.

He wasn’t using his private executive elevator tonight.

The doors slid shut. We were alone in the small metal box, the air instantly thick and electric.

Neither of us spoke.

15… 14… 13…

Luca’s shoulder brushed mine. The silence stretched, heavy with everything unsaid from last night and today.

My heart hammered in my chest..

Then the elevator jolted violently.

The lights flickered.

Everything stopped.

The car hung suspended between floors, emergency lights kicking on with a soft red glow.

“Not again,” Luca muttered, pressing the emergency button. No response. He checked his phone, no signal. “This building’s grid has been acting up. I’ll have maintenance fix it permanently tomorrow.”

He turned to face me fully.

The small space felt even smaller under the red emergency light. His broad shoulders filled the car. His gaze locked on mine, dark and intense.

Then it dropped slowly to my lips.

My breath caught.

He took one step closer.

Then another.

The air crackled with tension so thick I could barely breathe. My back pressed against the cool metal wall. His hand came up, hovering near my arm like he was fighting the urge to touch me.

“Maya…” he said, voice low and rough, using my first name for the first time.

He leaned in slowly, deliberately, his face inching closer to mine. His eyes stayed fixed on my mouth, dark with heat and barely restrained need.

So close.

Close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin.

Close enough that one more inch would close the distance completely.

My lips parted slightly.

And then…