“That’s motivation.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Believe it.”
He’s so close my eyes betray me, dropping to his mouth—full, alluring, far too tempting. I blink slowly, forcing myself to breathe, counting to ten.
“I don’t owe you admitting to anything,” I say.
“No,” he agrees quietly. “You don’t. But you owe it to yourself.”
Silence stretches—thick, unbearable. The room feels smaller, the hum of the equipment louder. My chest rises and falls too fast, like I’ve just run a marathon instead of standing in a sterile assessment room with a man who’s dismantled my self-control.
“Ivy,” he says, and this time there’s no teasing in it. Just my name.
I close my eyes.
“I felt something,” I admit, the words tearing out of me before I can stop them. “I didn’t want to. I still don’t. But yes—I felt something.”
When I open my eyes, he’s watching me like he’s just been handed something precious. His breathing is uneven too now, his composure cracked. It makes him more human.
“Good,” he murmurs. “Because I did too.”
We’re too close. Too quiet. The air feels charged, fragile, like one more second might tip us right back into something we can’t afford.
Then—
The door swings open.
“Well, this is cozy.”
The voice is smooth. Polished. Cold.
I jerk back like I’ve been burned.
A man stands in the doorway. I try to force my mind to remember where I've met him before, who Dr. Logan introduced him as. Then I recall Dr. Logan showing me his picture and wish the floor would open and bury me whole.
It’s Greg Stallworth. Declan's agent.
He's shorter than I expected for someone with so much presence. Maybe five foot eight with graying temples and cold, gray eyes, cataloging every detail of the scene before him. His suit is expensive, perfectly tailored. A Rolex glints at his wrist.
Declan straightens instantly, something slamming shut behind his eyes. All warmth evaporates. The dangerous intimacy vanishes like it never existed.
“Gregory,” he says flatly.
Gregory’s gaze slides from Declan to me, lingering on my flushed face far too long.
"Declan." His voice is smooth, pleasant even, which makes things worse. "I've been looking for you. We have that meeting with the marketing team."
"I'm in the middle of an assessment," Declan replies with a neutral tone.
"So, I see." Gregory's lips curve upward, but he's not smiling. He gives me a predatory look, like I'm a threat to be eliminated. "Dr. Chandler, is it? I've heard about the new research project. Fascinating work."
"Thank you," I manage, my voice surprisingly steady.
"I trust everything is proceeding..." He looks around slowly, then pointedly at Declan and me. "...professionally?"
The emphasis on the last word carries a warning tone. I lift my chin in response.
