Tension & Temptation

The moment Moreau left, Evelyn sank into her chair. She wasn’t sure if she had won or just stepped into something she couldn’t control.

Adrian was still there, arms crossed, his jaw tight. “Tell me you didn’t just make a deal with the devil.”

Evelyn smirked, tilting her head. “If I did, would you save me, Westwood?”

His eyes darkened. “You know I would.”

For a second, something unspoken crackled between them. It wasn’t just the usual back-and-forth. It was something deeper, something dangerous.

But before Evelyn could say anything, Adrian was already stepping closer.

“I don’t trust Moreau,” he muttered.

“Neither do I,” she admitted.

“Then why are you playing with fire?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Because I was born to.”

Adrian let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “You drive me insane, you know that?”

Evelyn leaned forward on her desk, resting her chin on her palm. “I’ve heard that before.”

His gaze flickered to her lips for just a second. Just enough to make her pulse quicken.

Evelyn smirked. “Adrian, are you—”

He cut her off by placing his hands on the desk, leaning so close that she could feel his breath. “You think this is funny?”

She swallowed. Damn him.

She was the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company. She had stared down gangsters, fought in underground rings, and faced threats that would make most people crumble.

Yet Adrian Westwood standing this close?

That was dangerous.

But Evelyn refused to back down. She tilted her head. “I think you’re jealous.”

Adrian chuckled, low and deep. “If I was jealous, sweetheart, you’d know.”

Evelyn’s heart did something stupid.

Before she could react, Adrian pushed off the desk and stepped back. The tension snapped like a rubber band stretched too far.

“Be careful, Sinclair,” he muttered before turning to leave.

Evelyn exhaled only after the door clicked shut behind him.

What the hell just happened?

Her heartbeat was still racing, and that was not okay. Adrian Westwood had no right to throw her off balance like that. She was supposed to be untouchable—unshakable.

And yet, here she was, gripping the edge of her desk as if that moment hadn’t made her knees weak.

She groaned, rubbing her temples. This is bad.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," she said, composing herself.

Her assistant, Claire, stepped in, holding a file. "Ma’am, the documents for the new security deal."

Evelyn took the file and flipped through it, trying to focus. "Any updates on Moreau?"

Claire nodded. "He's keeping a low profile for now. But our sources say he’s been asking around about you."

Evelyn smirked. "Let him dig. He won’t find anything I don’t want him to."

Claire hesitated. "And… Mr. Westwood?"

Evelyn arched a brow. "What about him?"

Claire bit her lip. "He looked… frustrated when he left."

Evelyn chuckled. "That’s his default setting when it comes to me."

Claire shook her head, smiling. "If you say so, ma’am. Should I set up the meeting with Moreau’s men?"

Evelyn leaned back, tapping her fingers against the desk. "Not yet. I need to play this smart."

Claire nodded and exited, leaving Evelyn alone with her thoughts again.

She picked up her phone, scrolling through her contacts. Her finger hovered over Adrian’s name.

She shouldn’t call.

She really shouldn’t.

And yet, her thumb pressed the dial button before she could stop herself.

The phone rang twice before he picked up. "Evelyn?"

She smirked. "You sound surprised, Westwood."

A pause. "I’m not. Just wondering what trouble you’ve gotten yourself into this time."

She leaned back in her chair, twirling a pen between her fingers. "Who says I’m in trouble?"

"You always are." His voice was low, teasing. Too damn smooth.

She should have ended the call. She should have not let this conversation go where it was heading.

But instead, she whispered, "Maybe I like trouble."

Silence.

Then, Adrian exhaled sharply. "Go to sleep, Sinclair. Before you start something you can’t finish."

Evelyn grinned. "Who says I won’t?"

Adrian chuckled, deep and rough. "You’re impossible."

"Goodnight, Westwood," she murmured before hanging up.

Evelyn stared at her phone, smiling like an idiot.

Damn him.

 -----

Author’s Note

"And that’s Chapter 9!

Adrian is trying to keep his distance, but let’s be real—he’s already slipping. And Evelyn? Oh, she’s just getting started. 😏

Coming next: An unexpected meeting, a not-so-innocent invitation, and Adrian realizing he’s in way too deep.

- Spicy Noodles (Serving tension hotter than a late-night confession.)

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