Shadows of Desire I 18+

Unexpected visitor

Lila's POV:

Lila sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the email that had just popped up on her phone screen. Her heart pounded in her chest as she read the words over and over again, trying to let them sink in.

**Subject:** Congratulations! You've Got the Job!

The rest of the email felt like a blur. Horizon Pictures had offered her the position. The position she had fought so hard for. The opportunity to finally make a name for herself in the world of film production. The job she had wanted so badly only days ago.

But now... everything felt different.

Her thoughts kept drifting back to the interview with Zane Hunter, the way the tension between them had simmered and boiled over during their encounter in his office. His eyes had lingered on her longer than they should have, his gaze intense and almost predatory. And then, when she had teased him, pushing back against his cocky arrogance, the way he had responded—both in his words and his actions—had shaken her more than she cared to admit.

She could still feel the heat of his hand on her wrist when he grabbed her as she tried to leave, the way his touch had lingered, sending shivers down her spine. The memory of it made her uneasy. Lila had always prided herself on her ability to stand her ground, to never let anyone get under her skin, but Zane... he had gotten to her.

And now, she didn't know what to do.

The rational part of her screamed that this was just a job—an incredible one—but a job nonetheless. She should take it and keep her distance from Zane. She had worked too hard to let her personal life get in the way of her professional success.

But there was something else, something gnawing at her that made it hard to breathe. The way Zane had looked at her, the way he seemed so intent on her... it wasn't normal. She felt drawn to him in a way that scared her. And on top of everything, there was Ryan. Her relationship with him was already on shaky ground, and taking this job felt like it might push her into something she wasn't ready to face.

The phone rang in her hand, startling her. She glanced down at the screen, half-expecting it to be Zane, but it wasn't. It was Emily.

"Hey," Lila said, her voice coming out shakier than she intended.

"Hey," Emily replied, her tone bright. "I just got your message. You got the job! That's incredible, Lila. I'm so proud of you."

Lila swallowed, trying to muster up the same excitement, but it felt hollow. "Yeah, it is," she said, forcing a smile Emily couldn't see.

"Are you okay? You don't sound as excited as I thought you would."

Lila hesitated, unsure how to explain everything that had happened. "I don't know, Em. I mean, I should be thrilled, but... there's just a lot going on right now. The interview was kind of intense."

"Intense how?" Emily asked, her voice laced with concern.

"It's... complicated." Lila exhaled, rubbing her temple. "The CEO, Zane Hunter, was in the interview. There was just... weird energy between us. And I don't know if it's a good idea for me to work there after what happened."

Emily paused for a moment before speaking again. "Weird energy? You mean like he was being inappropriate?"

Lila bit her lip. "No, not exactly. It was more like... we were both challenging each other. But it felt personal. I don't know how to explain it."