FATED TO WANT YOU.

KAILEEThe first rule of dancing for Ashton Lancaster was simple: he could look, but he couldn’t touch.He’d established that rule, but for the longest time, I’d wanted to break it.“You still haven’t said anything, Ash,” I whispered. “What’s your deal with me?”He turned his face away, pushing his glass to his lips. I stood there, in the Midnight room, the music still playing in the background.“You’ve finished your performance, now go to bed.”I shook my head. “You’re always like this. One minute, you’re staring at me on that pole like I’m someone you want, and the next, you’re chasing me away.”“You’re dismissed for tonight.”He turned around and walked to his golden arm chair, leaving me standing there.For eight months, I’d danced for him. We’d never crossed our boundaries, but we’d come dangerously close three times.Each time we were that close to breaking the first rule, Ashton pulled away and apologized for even thinking about crossing that line.Tonight made it four.I stepp

KAILEE“Five minutes? The original timeframe was thirty minutes.”I had no idea what was running through Ashton’s mind when he said that. But there was no way he expected me to deliver thirty designs in five minutes.He shifted his attention to the files in front of him, then picked up a pen without glancing at me.“Your time started thirty seconds ago, Ms. Donovan.”My teeth clenched. I almost grabbed my things to leave, but I needed to prove to Sasha that she’d made the right decision by choosing me for this.I didn’t waste another second with him. I retrieved my sketches and began briefing everyone on the designs.Ashton’s eyes were on me the whole time. Rather than staring at the designs, he studied me with an unreadable expression, his back reclined against his chair.“I couldn’t find any white designs,” he said three minutes later. “Care to explain that, Ms. Donovan?”I almost scoffed at how professional he sounded. Forcing a smile, I replied politely.“We’re approaching the rai

KAILEEI kept checking my phone for the time as I worked. Ashton sat in his office, only checking on me when he wanted.Since our offices faced each other, separated by transparent glass walls, I could see straight into his office whenever I looked up.Whenever he raised his head from the desk, our eyes met.By eight-thirty, he stood up and approached me with a brooding expression.“You’ve spent more time staring than working, Ms. Donovan.”I maintained a serious expression, knowing fully well that he’d caught me. “And you noticed that how, Mr. Lancaster?”He halted behind me and leaned forward, his lavender scent immediately filling the air around me.My fingers tightened around my pencil as I swallowed hard.Ashton brushed his fingers against my sketchbook from behind, flipped through the pages and returned to the design I was working on.“Thirty minutes left and only one design is ready.”He sounded disappointed. Honestly, I couldn’t work with the fact that he was staring at me f

KAILEEB-lord.It was a name I never wanted to hear again, yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape it.My fingers tightened around my dress as I swallowed hard. I looked away from Ashton, struggling to keep my voice steady.“I… I don’t want to talk about it.”“Ms. Donovan,” he called sternly. “I shouldn’t have to explain how serious this situation is.”“I had nothing to do with the leak.”“Don’t fucking lie to me. I’m giving you one more chance to answer my question.”I held his gaze, my eyes twitching. It felt as though history was repeating itself. Once again, I was being accused of something I couldn’t easily explain.“When was the last time you saw him?”“Three months ago,” I whispered. “I haven’t seen him since. I’ve been avoiding him.”Ashton smirked. He looked like he didn’t believe a word I’d said.“Why?”After years of being extorted by him, I’d finally realized that he had no intention of giving me what I needed.I’d grown tired of relying on him to find my biolog

KAILEEAshton kept to his word. The next two days were nothing short of exhausting, with every design I submitted coming back with one criticism or the other.By my fourth day, he’d changed the work arrangements, making sure I reported directly to him.“The gold designs are manageable, but they could be better.”I watched as he crossed out the bottom of my sketch. That was my fifth time I’d had to change it after his reviews.“Do you have any specific ideas, Mr. Lancaster?”He dropped the sketchbook onto the table and pushed it towards me. His eyes narrowed as he studied my face, his expression unreadable.“You’re the designer, Ms. Donovan.”“Yet you’ve had a problem with every single design.”“I gave constructive criticism.”I sighed tiredly, anger already rising in my chest.“Fine.” I snatched the sketchbook and tightened my grip on it. “I’ll work on your constructive criticism for the sixth time.”I mumbled to myself as I walked out of his office. Constructive criticism, my foot.