The CEO's Match

Temptation and Control

Alexander's pov

The moment Nova stepped into my suite, I knew I had made a mistake. Her presence alone was intoxicating, but in that damn silk dress, she was a walking temptation-a temptation I had no intention of indulging. Yet, here she was, lounging in my room as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She settled into the chair by the window, crossing her legs with a casual grace that was anything but innocent. The soft light from the lamp cast a glow on her, highlighting the way the silk clung to her body, accentuating every curve. I forced myself to look away, focusing instead on the notes I'd left on the desk, a flimsy attempt to distract myself from the tension that hung in the air.

I could feel her eyes on me, watching, waiting. She had a way of pushing boundaries without ever crossing them outright-a skill that was both infuriating and, admittedly, impressive. This entire trip had been a game to her, a game where she was constantly testing my limits, and so far, I had managed to maintain control. Barely.

She smiled as I approached the desk, the kind of smile that held a thousand unspoken challenges. I couldn't let her see that she was getting to me, couldn't let her know that she was wearing down the carefully constructed walls I'd built around myself.

"Alright, Nova," I said, keeping my tone measured as I handed her a file. "Let's review the agenda for tomorrow. We have a full schedule of meetings, starting with the investors at nine."

She took the file, but her focus wasn't on the contents. Instead, she looked up at me, her eyes sharp, yet playful. "You know, Alexander, you're awfully tense. You might want to loosen up a bit. We're in a new city, after all. A change of scenery should be refreshing."

"I'm not here for relaxation," I replied, trying to ignore the way her voice seemed to wrap around me, low and sultry. "We're here to close deals and secure partnerships. Everything else is secondary."

She leaned back, her gaze never leaving mine. "You say that, but you can't deny that there's more to life than just business. Even you need to unwind sometimes."

I clenched my jaw, determined not to let her get under my skin. "There's a time and place for everything, Nova. Right now, we need to focus."

She sighed, as if disappointed that I wasn't rising to the bait. "Fine, fine. Let's focus. But don't say I didn't warn you. All work and no play makes for a very dull trip."

I ignored her comment, instead diving into the agenda, detailing every meeting, every expected outcome. I kept my voice steady, authoritative, trying to reassert the control that felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

But even as I spoke, I could feel her presence like a physical weight, a constant reminder that she was here, in my space, disrupting my carefully maintained order. She had a way of turning everything into a challenge, a game of wits that I wasn't sure I could keep up with much longer.

"And after the meeting with the investors, we'll head straight to the conference with the potential partners," I continued, forcing myself to stay on track. "It's crucial that we present a united front. They need to see that we're in sync."

Nova nodded, her expression thoughtful. But there was a glint in her eye, something mischievous, that made me wary. "Of course. United front. We wouldn't want to give them the wrong impression, would we?"

The way she said it, the emphasis on "wrong impression," sent a shiver down my spine. She knew exactly what she was doing-testing me, pushing me to see how far I would go before I snapped.

I took a deep breath, closing the file with more force than necessary. "That's enough for tonight. We'll go over the finer details in the morning."

She stood, smoothing down her dress in a way that made it impossible not to notice how short it was. "Whatever you say, boss. But remember, sometimes a little flexibility goes a long way."

She turned to leave, and I had to fight the urge to stop her, to say something that would put her in her place. But the words caught in my throat. She was right, in a way-this trip wasn't just about business. It was about navigating this unspoken tension between us, a tension that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

As she reached the door, she paused, glancing back at me. "Goodnight, Alexander. Try not to work too hard."

And with that, she was gone, leaving me alone in the silence of the suite. I stared at the door long after it had closed, my thoughts a chaotic mix of frustration, desire, and something I couldn't quite name.

I ran a hand through my hair, cursing under my breath. This was supposed to be a straightforward trip-handle the meetings, close the deals, return home. But Nova had a way of complicating things, of making me question everything I thought I knew about control and discipline.

Tomorrow was another day, another round in this game we were playing. And I couldn't afford to lose. Not to her, not to anyone.

But as I prepared for bed, my mind kept drifting back to her, to the way she had looked standing in my suite, challenging me with nothing more than a glance and a smile. I knew this wasn't over-not by a long shot.

And that thought, as much as I hated to admit it, thrilled me.