4. Alice Lingers in Vivian's Mind

VIVIAN SCOTT

After a long day, finally, I found myself in my penthouse, standing by the window overlooking the city. The lights blinked lazily beneath me, a sharp contrast to the rapid pace my mind was moving. I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled deeply, the weight of the day still heavy on my shoulders. But something else was on my mind now—someone else.

Alice Riley. I hadn’t expected her to be the way she was. For someone who worked in the legal field, she hadn’t shown the professionalism I expected. It was like I was dealing with a different version of her altogether—one that didn’t quite match the polished, corporate image she was supposed to present.

She was far from what I’d expected, and maybe that’s why she was still in my thoughts. The way she’d fumbled, then found her composure, trying to remain confident even though I could sense her internal conflict. The way she’d blushed when I leaned in too close, the heat in her cheeks almost palpable. That reaction, so unguarded and raw, was something I wasn’t used to.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her lips, her gaze, the brief moment of vulnerability she let slip through. It was almost as if she’d been trying to fight it—fight me, fight the attraction that seemed to simmer beneath the surface.

Sighing, I peeled off my suit jacket and tossed it on the chair. My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. Just a reminder of the demands I will face tomorrow. But right now, all I could focus on was Alice. The way her skin had flushed when she realized how close I was. The way she kept trying to stand her ground, even when it was clear I was getting under her skin.

Part of me was drawn to the challenge. I wanted to break through the walls she had carefully constructed around herself, to see if I could unravel her composure. I was confident that one more meeting would be enough—she wouldn’t be able to resist me for long.

A few nights. Maybe more. No strings. Just fun. But I could tell she wasn’t someone who would go down that path easily. That intrigued me even more.

I climbed into bed; the soft sheets cool against my skin. My mind refused to settle. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her—her fiery determination, her vulnerability, and the way she seemed to fight her own emotions when I was near.

I wasn’t sure where this would go. I wasn’t even sure if it was a good idea. But one thing was clear: Alice Riley was a force I wouldn’t be able to ignore for long.

ALICE RILEY

I stepped into my tiny apartment, shutting the door behind me with a sigh of relief. The quiet, the stillness—it was exactly what I needed after the whirlwind of emotions that Vivian Scott had stirred up. The place was small, barely enough for one person, but it was mine. A refuge, a world I controlled.

The beige walls were chipped in a few places, and the furniture was far from fancy. An old couch by the window and a small wooden table with a single chair were all I needed. My little kitchen, tucked into the corner, wasn’t much either—a modest refrigerator, a two-burner stove, and a sink with a few stubborn stains that no amount of scrubbing could remove. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was home.

I moved to the kitchen, grabbed a couple of slices of bread, and dropped them into the toaster. The hum of the machine filled the silence as I leaned against the counter, arms crossed, trying to push him out of my mind.

Vivian Scott. The name itself made my stomach twist in frustration—and something else I refused to name. I hated how he had made me feel today. Weak. Flustered. Out of control. Those weren’t things I allowed myself to feel, not after everything I’d worked for. And yet, with just one meeting, he had managed to unravel me.

It wasn’t just his looks, though those were impossible to ignore. It was the way he carried himself, the way he seemed to own the room, to dominate the very air around him. The way his deep voice wrapped around me, made my thoughts stumble and my resolve waver. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the memory. I couldn’t afford to let a man like him rent space in my head.

The toast popped up, the sound snapping me back to reality. I pulled the slices out, spreading a thin layer of butter over them before sitting down at the small table.

As I sat there, biting into the warm toast, his image lingered in my mind. The way he had leaned closer, the smirk playing on his lips as if he knew exactly what kind of power he had over me. I hated it. Hated that he’d seen through my defenses, even for a moment.

I clenched my jaw, shaking my head firmly. No. I wouldn’t let him get to me. He was a distraction—a dangerous one—that would inevitably lead to the same tired conclusion: him labeling me headstrong and demanding I change who I was.

Vivian Scott might have the ability to turn heads and make hearts race, but I wouldn’t let him turn my world upside down. Not tonight. Not ever.