The car glided smoothly through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound breaking the thick silence between them. Andrew Vele sat back against the leather seat, his jaw tight, his fingers drumming faintly on his knee. Beside him, Selina Whyte sat rigid, hands locked together in her lap, eyes fixed on the tinted window as if the blurred city passing outside could give her something—anything—to think about other than what had happened minutes ago in the mansion.
The air inside the car was dense, carrying the faint trace of Andrew's cologne—woody, deep, and dangerously familiar. It mixed with the scent of her perfume, a soft, sweet contrast that only seemed to make the silence more charged.
Neither spoke. Neither dared to.
Selina could still feel it—the heat of his lips, the electricity that had sparked when he had pulled her close. Her heart gave a faint thud at the memory. It was wrong. It was unexpected. It was everything that shouldn't have happened between a boss and his secretary. Yet when she closed her eyes, she could still feel the moment like a fire pressed against her skin.
She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself. Why did I respond? she scolded silently. Why didn't I push him away?
But deep down, she knew the answer. Because for a second—a single, reckless second—she wanted it too. She had wanted him.
Andrew shifted slightly beside her, breaking her thoughts. His gaze flicked toward her, lingering just long enough to trace the curve of her jaw, the soft pink still coloring her lips. He clenched his teeth, looking away quickly, his pulse beating too fast. What had come over him back there? He was always in control, composed, precise. Yet one slip—one moment of seeing her in that dress, flushed and nervous—and every ounce of discipline he had built shattered like glass.
The silence stretched longer. Even the driver seemed aware of the tension, his eyes fixed straight ahead, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, pretending not to hear or see a thing.
Selina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to look anywhere but at him. She could feel his presence—too close, too powerful. Each time she shifted, her knee brushed against his, and each accidental touch sent a wave of warmth racing up her skin. She inhaled slowly, praying he wouldn't notice the faint tremor in her hands.
Andrew, however, noticed everything. The way her breathing changed when their knees brushed. The way she bit her lip, trying to keep herself steady. The way she avoided his eyes, though he could tell she wanted to look.
He exhaled softly and turned his gaze out the window. Get a grip, Andrew. This wasn't like him. He had faced investors, rivals, and board members with icy calm—but one kiss, one woman, and suddenly his composure was slipping. He could still feel the softness of her in his arms, the way she had fit perfectly against him, her scent lingering like a whisper he couldn't forget.
Selina's thoughts spiraled in circles. She had replayed that kiss a hundred times already, even though she wished she hadn't. What if he regrets it? she wondered. What if he sees me differently now? The thought made her stomach twist. He was her boss, after all. The man she admired. The man she respected. She couldn't afford to lose that line between them.
The car turned into a main road, the morning light streaming in through the tinted glass. She risked a glance at him—and immediately regretted it. His eyes met hers, steady and unreadable, and the intensity of it made her breath hitch.
For a heartbeat, neither looked away.
Andrew's gaze softened, almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained guarded. He wanted to say something—to apologize, maybe, or explain—but the words wouldn't come. Everything between them suddenly felt fragile, like glass waiting to shatter if he said the wrong thing.
Selina broke the eye contact first, turning her face back toward the window. Her reflection stared back at her—composed, but only barely.
"Five minutes to Vele Corporation, sir," the driver said quietly.
Andrew nodded once, his voice calm but low. "Thank you."
Selina's pulse jumped. Five minutes. In five minutes, she'd have to walk through the front doors of the company and pretend everything was normal. Pretend she hadn't been in her boss's arms. Pretend that kiss hadn't made her feel like the ground had disappeared beneath her.
She rubbed her palms together nervously, glancing down at her lap. The elegant dress he had bought her still felt strange against her skin—soft and expensive, too beautiful for someone like her. Each thread reminded her of the way he had looked at her that morning—like she was something rare, something that caught him off guard.
Andrew shifted again, trying to look composed, but his thoughts were far from steady. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face when she'd fallen—eyes wide, lips parted, trust flickering there even in her fear. He had caught her without thinking, instinctively, and when she had opened her eyes in his arms, everything around him had vanished.
He ran a hand over his face, forcing himself to breathe. He couldn't afford distractions, not today. The board meeting, the partnership deal—he had too much at stake. And yet here he was, sitting next to the very distraction that was undoing him one heartbeat at a time.
Selina caught his reflection in the window—the faint crease between his brows, the tension in his shoulders. He looked like he was fighting himself. Somehow, that made her heart ache even more.
The car slowed as they neared the gates of Vele Corporation. The towering glass building gleamed ahead, catching the sunlight like a blade.
Selina's stomach tightened. Her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag. She wanted to say something—to break the silence—but every word felt dangerous.
Just before the car came to a stop, Andrew finally spoke, his voice low and rough, barely above a whisper. "Selina…"
She turned to him quickly, eyes wide.
For a second, it seemed like he wanted to say something else, something more. His gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes. But instead, he cleared his throat, leaning back. "We're here."
The car stopped.
Selina nodded, her voice small. "Yes, sir."
The driver stepped out to open the door, and as sunlight spilled inside, Selina drew in a shaky breath. She reached for her bag, her hands trembling slightly. When she stepped out, the cool air hit her face, but the warmth in her chest refused to fade.
Andrew followed a moment later, buttoning his jacket, expression calm—but his eyes, when they flicked toward her, said something else entirely. Something unspoken.
Neither said a word.
But as they stood side by side, the memory of that kiss—the fire, the loss of control, the way their hearts had raced together—hung heavy between them, invisible but undeniable.
And even though both of them tried to bury it beneath silence and professionalism…
neither could deny that something had already begun.