All Chapters of Off-Limits Desire: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Scarlett's POVThe projector buzzed softly behind me, casting clean white light across the room. Rows of sharp suits and eager eyes stared ahead as the conference room settled into a heavy silence. The hum of anticipation was tangible.This was it,the real beginning. Project Alaris was no longer just scribbles on whiteboards and late-night calls. It was moving. Breathing.Ares had called an official meeting and the assembly room…I know, colour me shocked too.was brimming with anxious and excited employees as we stared out at the sea of brown, blue and hazel eyes.The air was thick with anticipation and excitement, as everybody chatted eagerly.Ares stood at the head of the room, one hand in his pocket, the other gripping the remote. His voice cut cleanly through the silence.“Welcome to the first full-stage week of Project Alaris. We’ve crossed the planning stage. Now, we execute.”I stood beside him, my notes discreetly tucked into the folder in my hand. He glanced at me briefly bar

Ares' POV“You seriously won't tell me where we're going,” she asked, looking over her shoulder as I held the car door open for her.I noticed the smell of beer wafted off her in small waves.She hadn’t even touched her drink, but the scent clung to her like secondhand smoke. The faint tang of beer lingered in her hair and on the fabric of her sweater, barely noticeable unless you were close, and unfortunately for me, I was.It wasn’t overpowering, just… ambient. The kind of smell that seeps into your skin from being surrounded by open bottles, sticky counters, and the low, warm hum of a crowded bar.She shut the car as I shushed her, rolling as a ghost of a smile teased her lips. The scent lingered in the air where I stood, bitter, yeasty, and oddly human.“Uh, earth to Ares,” she snapped her fingers in front of my face. I shook my head, coming out my trance as I realized she had the windows down.I quickly shut the door, moving over to the other side as the car engine rumbled to lif

Scarlett's POV“Scarlett!” Byron yelled, arching a brow as I jumped, laying a hand on my chest.We stumbled into the breakroom. Byron shot me a worried look. The buzz of the fluorescent lights above felt like a drill in my skull.I barely registered the coffee machine sputtering behind me as I wrapped my fingers around a warm paper cup, hoping the bitter liquid might somehow force me into consciousness.The first sip was bitter, almost jarring, but it grounded me. The warmth slid down my throat like a slow burn.Fuck, this shit is strong.“Whoa,” Byron’s voice cut through the fog in my brain, “You look like…shit. And that's putting it lightly,” he chuckled while I shot him a death glare.Rain pelted the windows softly at first, each droplet tapping against the glass like a gentle reminder of the storm to come, a delicate rhythm that almost blended into the quiet hum of the room.The sky outside had deepened into a moody gray, heavy with unshed clouds, and the trees beyond swayed gentl

Ares' POVI kept my ears peeled as I basically dragged myself away from her door. Once I was sure she was in her office, I paused.Her coconut scent lingered in the hallway, mixed with the hints of lavender I had grown to adore.It clung faintly to the space, delicate but insistent.Hints of black coffee lingered, strong and bitter, laced through her perfume.It mingled oddly with the faint scent of rain that had crept in from the open windows down the corridor.Earthy, cool, and damp, it added something quieter to her fragrance, like the way she carried exhaustion this morning in particular without saying a word.I didn’t mean to breathe in again, but I did…slowly this time.“What the fuck are you doing man?” A tiny voice asked as I chuckled dryly, realising I was standing in my corridor, inhaling Scarlett's scent.I paused, thrusting my hands deep into the pockets of my black slacks as I shifted on the soles of my feet, tapping the elevator buttons absentmindedly.I heard her shuffle

Scarlett's POVThe air shifted subtly, just enough to make my shoulders tense, as Roman’s laughter petered out into a breathy chuckle.He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, glancing between us like he was trying to read the room, his smile faltering. His fingers stalled at his nape, the gesture almost sheepish, maybe even nervous.Then Ares stepped forward, calm and unhurried, but something about the movement felt heavy.The subtle scrape of his shoes against the polished floor echoed faintly, and his presence seemed to expand, commanding the space like gravity itself had shifted.His expression was unreadable, but the atmosphere thickened as if even the walls were holding their breath.That quiet, controlled intensity rolled off him in waves, intimidating without needing to try. I felt my pulse hitch, the silence drawing out just long enough to make Roman glance away, his hand still hovering awkwardly near his neck.I instinctively stepped backward as Ares stepped forward, th