The drive back from dropping Isabella off was… different.
Too quiet.
Too loud.
Alexander Knight tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched slightly as the city lights blurred past him. Something was off—and he hated not having control over it.
His mind kept replaying the same moments.
Her smile.
Her voice.
The way she said "Okay, boss" so casually.
He exhaled sharply.
"This is ridiculous."
He had met countless women before—confident, elegant, beautiful women who would have done anything to be close to him. None of them had ever affected him like this.
None of them had ever made him… pause.
But Isabella?
She was different.
Too different.
Back in his penthouse, Alexander loosened his tie and poured himself a drink, but even the usual burn of alcohol didn't settle his thoughts.
Instead, it made them clearer.
More dangerous.
He leaned against the glass window, staring out at the city below.
"Why her?"
She was just his assistant.
Stubborn.
Too bold for her position.
Annoyingly resilient.
And yet…
She didn't fear him the way others did.
She challenged him without even trying.
She smiled—like she wasn't standing in front of one of the most powerful men in the city.
His grip tightened around the glass.
That smile again.
It lingered in his mind like something he couldn't erase.
The next morning, Alexander arrived at the office earlier than usual.
And without realizing it—
His eyes searched for her.
He stopped mid-step.
Annoyed.
"Unbelievable."
He turned sharply toward his office, trying to push the thought away. But it didn't work.
Because moments later—
He saw her.
Standing at her desk, focused, flipping through files, her expression calm and determined.
For a second…
He just watched.
Something unfamiliar stirred in his chest again.
Not irritation.
Not control.
Something deeper.
Something he didn't like.
Later that day, Isabella walked into his office with her usual composure. "You asked for these documents, sir."
Alexander looked up at her—and for a moment, he forgot what he was about to say.
That had never happened before.
"Sir?" she called softly.
He blinked, quickly regaining himself. "Leave them."
She placed the files down and turned to leave—
"Isabella."
She stopped. "Yes?"
There was a pause.
A rare one.
As if he was choosing his next words carefully.
But in the end—
He said nothing important.
"Be early tomorrow."
She nodded. "I will."
And then she left.
The door closed.
Silence filled the room.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Damn it."
There was no denying it anymore.
No escaping it.
No controlling it.
The truth was clear.
Unwanted.
Inconvenient.
Dangerous.
He was falling for her.