𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 7: The Night Shift

Alexander

I couldn’t deny it any longer — Scarlett was becoming more than just an employee to me. There was a magnetic pull between us, a connection I couldn’t ignore. She was beautiful, yes, but it was her strength and intelligence that truly captivated me. She challenged me in ways no one else dared to, and I found myself looking forward to our interactions.

One night, I stayed late at the office. I knew Scarlett was working late as well, and I couldn’t resist the urge to see her. As I walked through the quiet halls, I found her in the conference room, her brow furrowed in concentration as she reviewed documents.

“Ms. Hayes,” I called softly, not wanting to startle her.

She looked up, a smile playing on her lips. “Mr. Blackwood. What brings you here at this hour?”

“I could ask you the same,” I replied, moving closer. “Dedication like yours is rare.”

She blushed slightly, looking down at the papers. “I just want to do a good job.”

“You’re doing more than that,” I said, my voice low. “You’ve exceeded every expectation.”

Our eyes met, and the air between us seemed to thicken. There was an unspoken tension, a desire I could no longer deny. I wanted her, more than I had ever wanted anyone. But I knew the risks, the dangers of getting involved with her. Still, in that moment, I didn’t care.

“Scarlett,” I murmured, stepping closer. “You’re playing with fire.”

She looked up at me, her eyes shining with a mix of fear and desire. “Maybe I like the burn.”

And in that moment, I knew there was no turning back. The attraction between us was too strong, the desire too intense. I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her breath hitched, and I felt my own heart race in response.

But this was just the beginning. We were stepping into dangerous territory, and the path ahead was filled with uncertainty. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel exhilarated. Scarlett Hayes was a risk worth taking.

As I stood there, looking down at Scarlett, the rational part of my mind screamed at me to stop, to walk away before it was too late. But another, more primal part of me—a part that had been growing louder ever since she first walked into my life—pushed those thoughts aside. I couldn’t walk away from this, from her. Not anymore.

Scarlett was a temptation I never anticipated. When she first joined Blackwood Industries, I saw her as just another employee, albeit a particularly competent one. But as the days turned into weeks, she became something more—a puzzle I couldn’t solve, a mystery I couldn’t unravel. Every time I thought I had her figured out, she would surprise me with her resilience, her sharp mind, or that fire in her eyes that seemed to burn brighter each time we crossed paths.

I had always prided myself on my control, on the ability to keep my personal and professional lives strictly separate. But Scarlett had shattered that barrier effortlessly. She had woven herself into my thoughts, into my very being, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t untangle myself from her.

As I brushed that strand of hair from her face, her breath caught, and I could see the conflict in her eyes—the same conflict that raged within me. There was fear there, yes, but also a fierce desire, a hunger that mirrored my own. It was a dangerous combination, one that could easily consume us both if we weren’t careful. But in that moment, I didn’t care about the consequences.

“I’ve been trying to keep my distance,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s becoming impossible.”

She didn’t respond right away, just looked up at me with those wide, expressive eyes, as if she were trying to read the thoughts swirling in my mind. And maybe she was, because the next words she spoke cut through the silence like a knife.

“Why?” she asked, her voice soft yet steady. “Why are you trying so hard to stay away?”

It was a simple question, but one that held a thousand different answers. I could have told her about the risks, about how getting involved with her could jeopardize both our careers, about the potential fallout if anyone found out. I could have mentioned the whispers I had already started to hear among the staff, the way they watched us with curious, speculative eyes whenever we were in the same room.

But none of that mattered in the face of the truth—the truth that had been staring me in the face for weeks, even as I tried to ignore it.

“Because you’re dangerous,” I finally said, my hand still lingering near her face, just inches from touching her again. “You make me want things I shouldn’t want. Things I’ve spent my entire life trying to avoid.”

Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she didn’t quite understand. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“It is when it comes with risks that could destroy us both,” I said, stepping closer, so close that I could feel the warmth of her body radiating through the small space between us. “Scarlett, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

Her eyes flickered with something—defiance, perhaps, or maybe determination. “Then tell me,” she challenged, her voice steady despite the tremor I could see in her hands. “Tell me what I’m getting into.”

Her eyes flickered with something—defiance, perhaps, or maybe determination. “Then tell me,” she challenged, her voice steady despite the tremor I could see in her hands. “Tell me what I’m getting into.”

I hesitated, torn between the urge to protect her and the need to be honest. But looking into her eyes, I knew that withholding the truth wouldn’t do either of us any favors.

“You’re stepping into a world filled with shadows, Scarlett,” I said, my tone grave. “A world where trust is a rare commodity and where everyone has an agenda. My life... it’s not as simple as it seems. There are things you don’t know about me, about this company, things that could put you in danger just by being close to me.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t back away. Instead, she took a step closer, closing the distance between us completely. “I’m not afraid of danger,” she whispered, her breath ghosting across my lips.

The intensity of her gaze, the unwavering determination in her voice—it was like nothing I had ever encountered before. She wasn’t intimidated by my warnings; if anything, they seemed to fuel her resolve. And that, more than anything else, made me want her even more.

I could feel the last threads of my restraint snapping as I looked down at her. There was no turning back now, no way to deny what was happening between us. It was a fire that couldn’t be extinguished, no matter how much I tried to douse it with logic and reason.

“You should be,” I murmured, my voice rough with the effort of holding myself back. “Because once you’re in, there’s no going back.”