The silence between them was louder than any argument.
Lia stood frozen in Leo's office, the city lights cutting sharp lines across his face. The revelation from moments ago still echoed in her mind—about the betrayal, the danger, and the enemy moving closer. But none of that was what made her chest tighten.
It was him.
The way he was looking at her now—guard lowered, restraint cracking.
"You shouldn't be here," Leo said, his voice low, controlled to the edge of breaking.
Lia didn't move. "You keep saying that."
"And you keep ignoring it."
She lifted her chin. "Because you don't mean it."
That did it.
Leo crossed the room in three long strides. Too fast. Too close. His presence swallowed her whole, heat and tension wrapping around her like a storm. He stopped just short of touching her, but it was worse this way—his breath warm against her skin, his gaze dark and unguarded.
"This," he said quietly, "is exactly why this is dangerous."
Lia's heart pounded. "Because you want me to leave?"
"No," he said. "Because I don't."
The admission hung between them, raw and irreversible.
She should have stepped back. She didn't.
Her fingers brushed his sleeve—an accidental touch that sent a sharp inhale through both of them. Leo's jaw tightened, his hand slamming against the wall beside her head, trapping her without actually touching her.
"Say the word," he murmured. "And I'll walk away."
Lia searched his eyes, seeing the war raging inside him. Control versus desire. Duty versus instinct.
She didn't say the word.
Instead, she whispered, "You're already too close."
For a split second, Leo looked like he might kiss her.
The tension snapped tight, electric, and unbearable.
Then his phone buzzed.
The sound shattered the moment like glass.
Leo pulled back instantly, his expression hardening as he checked the screen. Whatever he read wiped the heat from his face, replacing it with something far more dangerous.
"What is it?" Lia asked.
"They've framed you," he said bluntly. "Officially."
Her blood ran cold. "What?"
"Security flagged your access code," he continued. "And someone just leaked a partial report to the board."
Lia's breath hitched. "So now they think—"
"They don't think," Leo cut in. "They're preparing to act."
He stepped away, putting distance between them like armor. "From this moment on, every move you make will be watched."
Fear crept up her spine. "Then why does it feel like they want me alone?"
Leo's gaze snapped back to her.
"Because," he said slowly, "they're trying to force me to choose."
Her pulse thundered. "Between what?"
Leo didn't answer immediately. His eyes dropped to her lips—just once—before lifting again.
"Between protecting my company," he said, voice dark, "and protecting you."
A sharp knock hit the door.
Hard. Urgent.
Leo's phone vibrated again.
Then the lights flickered.
And the door locked.
Lia's heart slammed into her throat.
Leo turned sharply toward the control panel.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," he said.
"Leo?" she whispered.
He looked at her, tension burning in his eyes.
"They're not just watching anymore."
They were already inside.