Chapter Six

Aisha’s POV

I walked out of the house and saw Ethan about to get into his car.

“Come on, let me drop you off,” he said, smiling at me.

I grinned. “Great.”

I got into his car, and he drove off.

“Ready for work?”

I shrugged. “A bit anxious.”

“It’s always first-time jitters. You’ll be fine.”

I nodded, but I doubted it. Not when Kyle was my boss.

“One more thing,” Ethan added, glancing at me. “Be careful around Kyle. He may be my best friend, but he’s changed over the years.”

I looked at him, then back at the window. He didn’t need to tell me. Last night had already proven that.

“He was reckless before, but now… he’s worse. I don’t want my little sister getting hurt.”

I let out a small, nervous chuckle. “Hurt? You don’t have to worry about that. Kyle won’t hurt me.”

“That, I know.”

He pulled up in front of Apex Holdings.

“Have a great day.”

“You too.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek before stepping out.

“And remember,” he added, “you’re welcome to join the family business anytime.”

I flashed him a smile and shut the door.

I exhaled slowly as I stood before the towering building.

Get it together, Isha.

I walked inside, offering polite smiles and greetings as I passed people. I made my way to the desk assigned to me, but the same woman from yesterday stopped me.

“Ms. Aisha, follow me.”

“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name yesterday.”

“Serena,” she replied, her tone flat.

“Where are we going?”

“Your job description has been changed. You’ve been reassigned as the CEO’s personal assistant.”

My heart slammed.

What the hell?

She stopped at a desk just outside Kyle’s office and thrust a file into my hands.

“You start now. Go through his schedule with him. Everything is in that file. If you need anything, come to me.”

Then she walked away.

I dropped my bag slowly, gripping the file like it might explode in my hands.

Through the glass, I saw Kyle seated with someone.

I inhaled deeply. “You can do this,” I muttered.

I knocked once and stepped in.

Kyle lifted his head, his gaze instantly locking onto mine. Cold. Assessing.

“Leave us, Theo. Close the blinds on your way out.”

The man from last night. His bodyguard.

He obeyed, shutting the blinds before leaving.

The room dimmed.

Too quiet.

“Brief me on my schedule,” Kyle said.

I opened the file, forcing my voice to stay steady. “You’re addressing the team by ten a.m. You have a stakeholder meeting by twelve p.m.”

“Good. There’s still time.”

He checked his watch, then stood.

“For what?” I asked.

He walked toward me slowly.

“Does it not concern you,” he said quietly, “that I had the blinds closed?”

I swallowed. “I’m more concerned about why you demoted me.”

He leaned against his desk, watching me.

“That’s not a demotion,” he said calmly. “But if you choose to see it that way…”

His fingers reached out, curling a strand of my hair around them.

“If you please me, I might promote you.”

My chest tightened with anger.

“I didn’t come here to climb my way up by warming your bed. I’m not some slut.”

His expression didn’t change.

“You don’t get to decide what you are,” he said softly.

Before I could react, his hand gripped my jaw.

“You’re mine.”

And then he kissed me. Hard. Possessive.

The file slipped from my hands as my back hit the wall.

I tried to resist. I really did.

But his grip tightened at my waist, pulling me flush against him, and my body betrayed me.

My arms wrapped around his neck.

God.

His lips moved from mine to my neck, slow, deliberate, like he knew exactly what he was doing. His hand slid lower, and a soft sound escaped me before I could stop it.

I hated that he heard it. I hated that I felt it.

He let out a low chuckle.

Then suddenly, he pulled away.

My eyes flew open. His expression had shifted. Cold. Mocking.

“Point proven.”

The words hit harder than the kiss. I stood there, humiliated, breath uneven.

He walked back to his seat like nothing had happened.

“Next time,” he said casually, “wear something easier.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Will that be all?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady.

“Tell Serena to prepare the team for the meeting.”

I nodded and walked out. My thoughts were chaos.

Why was I like this with him?

Why him?

•

The meeting came and went in a blur.

I was introduced to the team, and I felt the shift immediately. The women watched me with thin smiles and sharp eyes.

Territory.

And I was the threat.

Kyle didn’t look away from me once.

Not once.

After the meeting, he got a call and asked me to reschedule the stakeholder meeting.

I did it without question.

I wasn’t ready to sit in a room with him again.

•

The day ended quietly.

Too quietly.

Kyle had left after the meeting and didn’t return.

I was packing up when my phone buzzed.

Fiona texted: Get dressed. Wear your sexiest outfit. We’re going out.

I sighed.

Of course she was. I sent her a nodding sticker.

I got home, freshened up, and changed into a short black dress that revealed more than it should.

By the time I stepped outside, Fiona was already waiting in her car.

“Come on!”

I got in, already suspicious.

She drove us straight into an underground parking lot.

The moment I stepped out, the noise hit me.

Music. Engines. Cheers. My stomach dropped.

Race cars lined the space.

No. Not here. Not again.

Fiona grabbed my hand and pulled me in. The last time I had been around this…

I saw it. The crash. Kyle’s father. The screams.

I squeezed my eyes shut briefly.

And then I saw him.

Kyle.

Dressed in black. No suit. No polish. Just danger. Raw and unfiltered. My chest tightened.

He still races? After everything?

Before I could process it, Yvonne walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

For a second, it looked like he was pulling away.

Then his eyes met mine.

And he kissed her.

I looked away immediately.

“Been a while since I’ve seen them together,” Fiona muttered.

“What?”

But I didn’t hear the rest.

“Racers, get ready!”

The engines roared to life. My heart pounded as the race began. Cars shot forward.

Speed. Danger. Madness.

Kyle’s car fell behind for a second, then surged forward.

He took a turn too sharply. My breath caught.

He’s going to crash. But he didn’t.

He pushed harder. Faster. He crossed the finish line first. The crowd erupted.

I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

He stepped out of the car, surrounded by cheers.

Then his gaze found mine, and he started walking toward me.

Each step deliberate. My pulse spiked.

“The fuck are you doing here?” He said, stopping in front of me.

I lifted a defiant chin. “I should be asking you that. Didn’t what happened years ago teach you anything?”

“What I do is none of your business,” he snapped. “Go home.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

His jaw tightened. “Go home, Aisha.”

“No.”

I grabbed Fiona’s hand and pulled her away.

“The asshole,” I muttered.

“How long has he been racing?” I asked.

“I don’t know. But I’ve been seeing him here since Cara’s accident.”

I stopped. My chest tightened.

Was it because of me?

Before I could think further, a man approached us with drinks.

“You both look tense. Relax.”

Fiona shook her head. “No, thanks.”

I took it and drank.

“I needed that,” I said.

He smiled. “Anytime. I’m Jeremiah.”

“Aisha.”

We started talking.

Fiona stepped aside, watching.

“Are you here with someone?” He asked.

Before I could answer, a hand slid around my waist.

My body stilled.

“She’s with me.”

Kyle. I knew that voice anywhere.

I looked up at him.

His grip tightened.

“Do I need to make it clear?” He said, his voice low.

My breath caught.

His fingers tilted my chin up. His eyes fixed on me. “You’re mine, Aisha.”

My heart slammed.

“Only mine.” 

And he kissed me in front of everyone, irrespective of the fact that Yvonne was present. 

His kiss was claiming. Declaring. And ending the line that’s between us.