Chapter 34

‎"We can’t be doing this,” Claire said, her voice low and hoarse from the intensity of the kiss. Her breath came in sharp bursts, chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to pull away from his arm. The heat of the moment still lingered on her lips, but clarity was quickly replacing the haze. What the hell was she thinking? If only he didn’t have a girlfriend. If only he wasn’t him.

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‎“Why are you acting like you don’t want this?” Edward’s tone sharpened, a flicker of irritation flashing across his face. Rejection never sat well with him. And Claire, she had rejected him more times than he cared to count. Most women in her position would have been thrilled to catch his eye, let alone receive the kind of attention he gave her. Was she just playing hard to get? Testing him?

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‎“I don’t… really want this,” she said finally, eyes glued to the floor, voice barely above a whisper.

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‎He studied her closely, jaw tightening. He didn’t believe her, not for a second. Her flushed cheeks, her trembling hands, the way she leaned into him just moments ago, it all told a different story. Her body betrayed the lie her lips had just uttered.

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‎“You have a girlfriend,” she added, her voice rising with urgency. “You’re too old, you could almost be my uncle, and you’re my boss.” The words tumbled out in a single breath, as though saying them all at once would make them more real. She felt his grip loosen, hesitation flickering in his eyes. She took her chance and slipped from his arm, bolting from the room like she was being chased.

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‎Edward stood there, stunned. “Uncle? Girlfriend?” he repeated under his breath, confusion lacing his voice. Seven years, did that really make him old? And what girlfriend was she talking about? Where had she even gotten that idea?

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‎Then a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as another thought crossed his mind. Maybe she was just scared, scared of his bulging member again her ass when he was holding her. Maybe she thought she couldn’t handle him… on bed. The idea amused him more than it should have. Typical Claire, always overthinking.

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‎He adjusted his trousers, the lingering evidence of their moment still pressing uncomfortably against the fabric. With a sigh, he walked back to his office, trying to shake her from his thoughts. But no matter how many reports he opened, emails he clicked, or numbers he scanned, Claire was everywhere. Every breath, every movement, every thought, she was all he could think about.

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‎After the long and exhausting day, the office finally emptied, and the silence signaled the closing hour. Edward strode out of his office with a determined look on his face, pulling out his phone, intending to call Claire. But before he could dial, he caught sight of her, Claire stepped out of her own office just down the hallway, gently closing the door behind her. Their eyes met for a fleeting second.

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‎“Good night, sir,” she said softly, clearly hoping to walk past him without a conversation.

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‎Something in her tone, or maybe her eyes, was off. She had been distant all week since she resumed work on Monday. Today, she seemed even worse. Her emotions had been in turmoil ever since that afternoon in the kitchen, ever since their last encounter, and now, once again, she had to face him, the very person she’d been trying to avoid.

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‎“What does that mean?” Edward asked sharply, his voice laced with cold confusion. His eyes narrowed when she made to step around him. Reflexively, he moved to block her path.

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‎“I’m not going your way today, sir,” Claire said, struggling to maintain a calm tone. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. If he weren’t her boss, she might have slapped that smug expression right off his face.

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‎Edward’s jaw tensed. “I’ll take you wherever you’re going,” he said, stubborn and clearly annoyed by her rejection. She had turned him down more times this week than he cared to count. And now, again?

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‎“I don’t want to bother you,” she muttered, managing to sidestep him this time. Without waiting for a reply, she made her way toward the elevator. She could feel his presence behind her, his footsteps echoing hers, close and deliberate. The pressure in her chest built with every step.

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‎Reaching the elevator, she jabbed the button a little harder than necessary. The doors slid open. Just as she stepped inside, he followed, slipping in beside her with a slow, dangerous smile that made her skin prickle with unease.

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‎He said nothing, as he straighten his cloth, but his presence filled the small space like a storm cloud. And Claire, though trying to appear composed, felt her pulse race.

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‎After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and laced with amusement.

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‎"I wonder why you were running like a beast was chasing you," he said with a smirk, stepping into the elevator after her. The space was large enough to fit five people comfortably, but suddenly it felt far too small. He cornered her effortlessly, his presence filling the space as he stood at an angle, cutting off any chance of escape.

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‎Her back hit the elevator wall as she tried to keep her distance. "What are you doing? Let me go," she said, her voice unsteady, edged with fear. There was something about his aura, it screamed danger, like a predator toying with prey. It made her wonder what exactly he was holding back.

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‎"Ease up," he murmured, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face with surprising gentleness. His touch contradicted the intense energy radiating off him. He looked down at her, his gaze darkening as he took in her small, delicate frame. Every instinct in him screamed to pounce, to claim—but he restrained himself, sensing the fear in her wide eyes.

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‎"Please... shift back," she whispered, finally losing the composure she'd been clinging to. Her eyes met his, and what she saw there made her blood run cold, eyes that glinted with hunger, like he wanted to devour her whole.