The Art of Temptation

THE ART OF TEMPTATION part2

                      Chapter 1: Unspoken Desires

Nate Donovan leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the skyline outside his office window. The city was alive beneath him, bustling with energy, but all he could focus on was the subtle tension knotting in his chest. It was rare for anyone to get under his skin, but lately, someone had—Ava hart

Ava was more than just his colleague; she was his equal in every sense of the word. Sharp, driven, and stunning in a way that felt almost dangerous. They'd shared countless meetings, negotiations, and business dinners, but there was always something simmering just beneath the surface between them—something unsaid but undeniably present.

Tonight, she'd be joining him at a charity gala, and he knew it would be the first time they were out of the professional bubble they'd been orbiting for months. As much as he tried to keep things professional, there was no denying the pull he felt whenever she was near.

The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor outside his office door pulled him from his thoughts. He didn't need to look up to know it was her. He could feel her presence before she even entered the room.

The door opened, and there she was—Ava, standing in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway. She wore a black dress, sleek and perfectly tailored, hugging every curve without trying too hard. Her dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and those piercing green eyes met his with that same intensity they always carried.

"Are you ready?" she asked, her voice steady, but Nate could hear the slight edge to it, a hint of something more.

He stood, adjusting the cufflinks on his shirt, trying to ignore the way his heart had picked up the moment she walked in. "As ready as I'll ever be."

She smiled, a small, knowing smile that made something inside him tighten. "You clean up nicely, Donovan."

"You don't look too bad yourself," he replied, keeping his tone casual, though his gaze lingered on her for just a moment longer than it should have.

As they walked side by side to the elevator, the silence between them felt heavier than usual. It wasn't awkward—it never was with Ava—but tonight, there was an electricity between them that neither of them could deny.

In the elevator, Nate leaned back against the wall, his hands in his pockets as he watched the floors tick by. Ava stood next to him, her body tense, as if she was trying just as hard as he was not to acknowledge the pull between them.

"You've been quiet lately," she said, breaking the silence, her voice soft.

He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Quiet?"

"You usually have something to say. Tonight, you seem... distracted."

Nate smirked, looking down for a second before meeting her gaze again. "Maybe I am."

Ava's eyes flickered with something—curiosity, perhaps—but she didn't press. Instead, she turned her attention back to the doors just as they slid open.

The gala was in full swing by the time they arrived. The room was filled with the city's elite, dressed to the nines, sipping champagne and exchanging pleasantries. But for Nate, the only person who mattered in that room was Ava.

They moved through the crowd with ease, greeting colleagues and acquaintances, but the tension between them never faded. It was there, like a constant hum beneath the surface, growing louder with each passing minute.

At some point during the night, Ava excused herself to get a drink. Nate watched her cross the room, her figure disappearing into the sea of people. He took a deep breath, trying to shake the thoughts swirling in his head. But when she returned a few minutes later, drink in hand, it was clear that neither of them was going to ignore what was happening between them much longer.