CHAPTER FIFTEEN

EVA'S POV

I didn’t sleep that night.

Not even for one second.

How could I, after what happened? After what almost happened?

My lips still tingled. My body still felt weak. My heart still thumped like it was trying to break out of my chest.

I kept replaying everything…him standing at my door, biting his lips… the way he whispered my name… the way I crashed my lips into his like a starved idiot who had waited her whole life for that moment.

I kissed my sister’s fiance...again!!

This time, without being drunk,without excuses, without mistakes.

This time, I wanted it.

I wanted him.

And that was the part that scared me the most.

When morning finally came, I dragged myself out of bed, feeling like I had fought a war in my dreams.

I showered twice, hoping the water would wash away the tension, but instead, it only made memories sharper.

His chest against mine, his breath mixed with mine, his hands on my waist.

His slow, dangerous whisper…

“Eva, don’t start something you can’t finish.” I said to myself but I did start it.

And now I didn’t even know how to face him.

I got dressed in the simplest, most boring outfit I could find.

Jeans and a loose top....No makeup....Hair in a messy bun.

I didn’t want to look pretty.

I didn’t want to tempt him or myself.

But deep down…

Maybe I wanted him to look at me.

Maybe I wanted him to want me again.

Maybe I was the color of my own problem.

I stepped into the hallway, trying not to think about Clark’s room and failing miserably in that by the way.

His door remained closed, and the sight alone punched something sharp into my chest.

Had he left early to avoid me?

Was he angry?

Regretting everything?

Pretending nothing happened?

My heart squeezed painfully.

It was becoming obvious that I cared too much.

And I didn’t know when that happened.

When I reached the dining area, breakfast was already set on the long glass table….toast, eggs, sausages, fruits, everything perfectly arranged.

He wasn’t there…he was always there.

Always early.

Always working.

Always busy but present but today, he was gone.

I sat down slowly, staring at the food.

I wasn’t hungry at all.

I just poked at the toast, breaking it into small pieces, feeling ridiculous and moody.

“Good morning, Miss Eva,” one of the staff greeted.

“Good morning,” I replied, forcing a smile.

Everywhere suddenly felt too quiet and too tense like Clark had sucked all the air out with him.

I was trying to convince myself it didn’t matter when suddenly the main door opened.

I froze.

Clark walked in.

His hair damp , shirt clinging to his chest, tie loose around his neck, suit jacket in his hand.

He looked…dangerous, sharp and agitated.

Did I also mention he looked breathtaking.

He didn’t say hi to me.

Didn’t spare me a glance.

He simply walked past, dropped a file on the table, and sat opposite me, scrolling on his phone with a cold expression.

My heart sank.

So… this was how he wanted to play it.

Pretend nothing happened.

Pretend last night wasn't fire and madness.

Pretend we didn’t break almost every line morality created.

Fine.

Two could play that game.

I cleared my throat. “Good morning, Clark.” I said.

Clark said nothing.

Not a nod.

Not a hum.

Not even an eye blink.

It was quite obvious he was ignoring me.

The anger bubbled up immediately.

I tapped the table loudly.

“Good morning, Clark.”

He slowly lifted his eyes, expression bored and calculating.

“Are you greeting me or interrogating me?”

My jaw dropped.

“I literally just said good morning.”

“And I heard you the first time,” he replied coolly.

“Is there a reason it needs repeating?”

I clenched my fist under the table.

“Well, you were ignoring me.”

“You’re not the center of my world, Eva.”

Ouch.

That one burned.

Deep.

I swallowed hard and looked away, trying not to show how much it hurt.

He continued eating as if he didn’t just stab me with words sharper than knives.

“So…" I whispered.

"We’re just acting like nothing happened last night?”

He froze but just for a split second.

A tiny, tiny second.

Then he dropped his cutlery and looked at me intensely.

“What happened last night?” he asked.

My breath hitched.

“Clark…”

“No,” he cut in, voice low.

“Tell me…What exactly do you think happened?”

“I…” I stuttered.

Every word I had died in my throat.

He leaned closer, eyes locked on mine, voice dropping into something dark and slow.

“You kissed me.”

My heartbeat spiked.

“So tell me, Eva,” he whispered.

“What part of last night do you want to talk about?”

I opened my mouth…but nothing came out.

He smirked lightly… but it wasn’t amusement.

It was annoyance.

Bitterness.

Restraint.

“You don't want to talk?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Good,” he said coldly.

“Because nothing about last night should ever be repeated…Ever.”

Something cracked inside me the moment he said those words.

He stood up, picked up his file, and straightened his tie.

“We begin work in ten minutes,” he said without looking back.

“Be ready.”

And just like that… he walked away.

Leaving me there breathless,embarrassed and hurting.

The morning dragged painfully.

We worked side by side in his office downstairs, but he never once looked at me longer than necessary.

His tone remained sharp.

His instructions were cold and his presence was distant.

I tried focusing, but every time I typed a sentence, his words replayed in my head.

“Nothing about last night should ever be repeated.”

Why did it feel like he slapped me with those words?

Why did it feel like rejection?

Why did I care so damn much?

At noon, he finally stood up.

“We’re done for today.”

I blinked.

“Done? But you said we had a lot to…”

“I changed my mind,” he said.

“I have a meeting.”

“Okay…” I murmured.

He grabbed his jacket, walked to the door, then paused.

“You should rest,” he said without turning.

“You look tired.”

“Gee, thanks,” I muttered.

To my shock, he actually smiled slightly..just a corner of his lips but it faded as quickly as it came.

Then he left.

I didn’t see him again till evening.

I was sitting by the pool outside, feet dipped in the water, trying to calm my head. The sun was setting, painting the sky in warm colors, and the breeze was soft and soothing.

For a moment, I let myself forget the disaster of today.

Then someone cleared their throat behind me.

I turned and it was Clark.

Hands in his pockets.

Black shirt sleeves rolled up.

Jaw tight.

Eyes unreadable.

My heart jumped so hard I almost slipped into the pool.

“Can I join you?” he asked quietly.

I blinked in confusion.

“Uh… sure.”

He sat beside me, close enough that I felt his warmth but far enough to keep boundaries.

We sat in silence for a while, watching the water ripple.

Then he finally spoke.

“I wasn’t ignoring you this morning.”

I looked at him, surprised.

He continued.

“I was avoiding saying something I would regret.”

“What do you mean?” I asked softly.

He sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “Eva… what happened last night shouldn’t have happened…You know that.”

“I know.”

“And you’re making everything very… complicated.”

My chest tightened.

“Complicated for who, Clark? For you? Or for me?”

He didn’t answer.

“Did you regret it?” I asked but there was silence…dead silence.

He finally turned his head slowly, eyes locking with mine…intense, burning, conflicted.

“I don’t regret the kiss,” he whispered.

My breath stopped.

“But I regret wanting more.”

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.

He leaned closer…so close our noses were almost touching.

“I regret wanting to pull you into my room last night,” he continued softly. “Regret, wanting to finish what you started...Regret losing control because of you.”

“Clark…”

“And most importantly,” he whispered, eyes darkening,

“I regret how much I still want you right now.”

My lips parted and my entire body heated.

He looked at my mouth and then my eyes.

Then back at my mouth.

His breathing changed.

He leaned in and suddenly…

A voice screamed from inside the house.

“Mr. Clark!! Mr. Clark!!! You need to come quickly!! There’s a problem!!”

We both jerked apart.

Clark stood instantly, face going cold and hard.

“What happened?” he demanded.

“It’s…it’s your phone, sir..there’s… there’s a video leaking online…a scandal. A big one.”

Clark’s eyes widened.

And then the staff whispered the words that froze my blood completely.

“It’s a video of… you and Miss Eva…I think.”

My heart stopped.

Clark turned to me, eyes filled with shock and fear and something else…Possession.

“Eva,” he whispered,

“we’re in serious trouble.”