The sunlight was pouring through the blinds in the office, but Lia did not feel the warmth. Standing in the doorway of the boardroom, her arms crossed over her chest, she looked at Leo Grant. He was the embodiment of life itself—he was strong and unbeatable.
"Lia, I don't think there's any reason why this conversation is necessary," Leo said, his voice calm but firm. His dark, unyielding eyes focused on hers like a dare.
"It's a discussion because it impacts both of us!" Lia snapped, her voice more biting than she meant. "You can't take so-called decisions and involve me in the trenches of the corporation without consulting me!"
Leo's lips pursed into a thin line. "I'm protecting the corporation—and you. That's all that matters."
"Protecting me?" she echoed in shock. "How? By keeping secrets? By not trusting me enough to tell me the truth? I mean, I've proven I can handle more than you think!"
His gaze eased ever so slightly, revealing the least bit of vulnerability. "I know you can, Lia. But sometimes, even strength needs guidance. Even the strongest people—"
**"Yes?" Eli had eased forward, his eyes locked intently upon hers.**
"I'm not weak!" she interrupted, a mixture of frustration and a spiking awareness of the attraction between them causing her voice to shake. "I don't need your guidance!"
"I think it's only fair you're the first to know," Leo said softly, his voice filled with an inner turmoil.
**He took a calculated step closer, and the space between them seemed to vibrate with unspoken emotion. The tension was far from professional—Leo could feel it was personal, even intimate, and potentially dangerous.**
**Each inch he brid**
"Then let's resolve this," he said, his voice falling to a low, nearly intimate rumble. "If this is some kind of willpower battle, Lia... then let's see whose will is more important."
The beat of her own heartbeat quickened as their close proximity allowed her to see the play of every shifting emotion in his expressive dark eyes. The outside world—see the boardroom meeting, see the Excel sheets, see their competitors—dissolved into nothingness for her as these two obstinate hearts clashed in their conflict that they themselves couldn't fully articulate or explain.
And then, the door behind them closed with a click. They froze.