BOUND TO THE BLACKWOOD BILLIONAIRE

Lila could still hear Victoria's voice echoing in her mind as she stepped into the elevator that evening.

"She'll be the next one he'll destroy."

The words felt like claws sinking into her thoughts, twisting everything she believed she understood about Aiden Blackwood. He wasn't perfect-obviously. Cold, intimidating, harsh at times. But destroy? That didn't fit the man who had knelt beside her when she cried. The man whose touch had lingered on her skin far longer than necessary. The man whose eyes softened when she mentioned her mother.

But maybe Victoria knew a version of him that Lila hadn't seen yet.

And that terrified her.

By the time she reached the twenty-ninth floor again-after dropping off some signed papers her supervisor needed-she found the entire floor already empty. Lights dim. Hallways quiet. The air heavy with loneliness.

A storm was building outside, thick clouds rolling across the skyline.

She should have left.

She should have dropped off the documents and gone home.

But as she passed Aiden's office, she noticed a faint sliver of light under the door.

He was still here.

Her heart jumped.

Then sank.

Then twisted painfully.

She stared at the door for a long moment, debating. She didn't want another confrontation, and she definitely didn't want to give Victoria's words any more power. But the papers needed to be left in his office anyway.

So she knocked gently.

"Come in."

His voice was deep, a little tired, a little rougher than usual.

She stepped inside.

Aiden looked up from his laptop, the glow highlighting the sharp lines of his face. He wasn't wearing his suit jacket anymore-just a black shirt with rolled sleeves, showing strong forearms and veins that traced along his skin.

He looked powerful.

And exhausted.

And completely unguarded.

"Miss Hart," he said, his voice softer than he meant it to be. "You're still here?"

"I had to drop these off," she said, holding the folder. "They needed your approval before tomorrow."

He reached out to take it, their fingers brushing.

Even that tiny contact sent her pulse racing.

"Thank you," he murmured.

Silence settled between them-heavy, charged, impossible.

Lila swallowed hard. "Do you... need help with anything else?"

Aiden stared at her for a long moment.

His eyes held a storm.

Conflict.

Longing.

Restraint pulled so tight it looked painful.

"No," he said finally, but his voice didn't match the word.

Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the office in white light-

And then-

The entire building went dark.

Lila gasped. "Oh-!"

Aiden stood abruptly. "It's okay. Backup power will activate in a moment."

But it didn't.

The only light in the room came from faint city glow filtering through the glass.

Lila's breath quickened. She wasn't afraid of the dark, but being alone in it with Aiden Blackwood was something entirely different. Something dangerous.

"Are you alright?" he asked, voice closer now-much closer.

"I'm fine," she said, though her heart hammered wildly.

Aiden moved toward her, but she could only sense him, not fully see him. His presence was overwhelming, even in shadows.

He reached out, fingers brushing her arm.

"You're trembling."

"It's cold," she lied.

He exhaled slowly. "No. It's not."

Another flash of lightning lit the room-revealing him standing inches from her. His jaw tight. His eyes locked onto hers with a heat that made her breath catch.

Then darkness swallowed them again.

"Lila..." he whispered, voice raw in the shadows.

Her knees weakened.

No one had ever said her name like that.

Not soft.

Not gentle.

Not wanting.

She didn't step back.

She couldn't.

Aiden lifted a hand-slow enough that she could have stopped him.

She didn't.

His fingers brushed her cheek, then slid to her jaw, tilting her face up to his. Her breath hitched loudly in the silence, and Aiden drew in a sharp breath of his own.

"Don't look at me like that," he whispered.

"How am I looking at you?" she breathed.

"Like you trust me."

Lightning flashed again-brief and bright-and in that instant, Lila saw the truth in his eyes:

He wanted her.

Badly.

Painfully.

And he hated himself for it.

"Aiden..." she whispered, helpless.

Her voice broke his restraint.

He stepped closer until her back brushed the edge of his desk. His hands moved to her waist-slow, hesitant, but full of a need he was trying desperately to deny.

She inhaled shakily. He leaned down, his breath brushing her lips, his fingers tightening just slightly-

The air between them sizzled with something electric.

He lowered his forehead against hers.

"If I cross this line," he murmured, "I won't be able to go back."

"I don't want you to go back," she whispered.

He exhaled shakily, one hand sliding up her side, fingers trailing warmth along her skin.

"This is wrong," he said, but he didn't move away.

"This is inevitable," she countered softly.

He made a sound-half-pain, half-desire.

Then he tilted his head, his lips brushing hers-

Barely a breath.

Barely a whisper.

Almost.

Her hands lifted to his chest, gripping his shirt. His body leaned into hers, heat burning through the thin barrier between them.

He was going to kiss her.

She could feel it.

Taste it.

Almost-

And then-

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

The sound slammed through the silence, shattering the moment completely.

Aiden jerked back like he'd been electrocuted.

Lila gasped at the sudden loss of warmth.

"Mr. Blackwood?" a muffled voice called from behind the door. "Sir? The power team needs a quick update if you're still inside."

Aiden closed his eyes tightly, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

He dragged a hand through his hair, stepping away from her as if distance alone could erase what almost happened.

Then-his voice cold again, painfully controlled-

"This was a mistake."

Lila flinched.

He didn't look at her.

Didn't explain.

Didn't soften.

He just whispered the words again, quieter, breaking in the middle:

"This cannot happen."