One Night Stand With My Nemesis

low on the impeccably dressed elites who mingled with ease, champagne glasses in hand. Eva Knight stood at the edge of the room, her fingers g

f high finance and tech. People she had done business with. People who

n Wo

k hair was styled with that infuriating perfection she hated to admit she noticed. He was surrounded by a group of

ways in her way. For years, their rivalry had defined the business landscape. If she was gunning for a deal, he

iced through her thoughts, low an

re. Aiden had a way of sneaking up on her at the most inopportune moments. Sh

ough I'd say you've been looking for me, conside

s scanning her face with that familiar intensity. "

ng to resist. But she held back, knowing better than to let him see he'd gotten under her skin.

e wasting your time," she said coolly

of why half the women in this room would kill for his attention.

ast the casual charm. "What do you want, Aiden

dropping to a more intimate ton

w easily he could rile her up, how one look or word from him c

voice steady. "You're here to gloat

a sharpness to it now. "Not exactly.

ering to hide her skepticism. "

e both know that with the current market instability, a merger is the only way

ter and harsh. "Protect it

g dangerous passing through them. "From ever

. For a moment, she studied him, searching for a crack in his cool façade.

her voice quieter now. "We've spent

aver. "Maybe that

surface. Eva clenched her jaw, fighting to keep her emotions in check. She couldn't af

nk I'd ever sign a deal with

an and intoxicating-filling the space between them. "It's not

buttons, how to make her doubt herself, even for a second. She had built her company from the ground up, fought

unthi

round than give you an ounce of cont

. For a moment, she thought he might snap back, throw some cutting

's about power. And we both know t

ted that he was right. Hated that some part of her couldn't ignore the

ith a scoff. "You're overes

predatory smile. "Maybe. Or maybe

she refused to name. She wasn't sure if she wanted to punch h

ered, taking a step back to p

e gap once more, his voice a low rumble. "W

s the problem with Aiden Wolfe-no matter how much she hated him, there was always something si

he needed to get out of this conversation before it went any further. Before

o," she said, her tone dismiss

before she could take another step. The warmth of his touch sent a

hink about it. You don't have to make a decision tonight, but

t. His grip was firm but not forceful, a reminder of the contr

ting his gaze with a steely look. "I d

standing in the middle of the crowded

at her to stay far away from whatever game Aiden was playing, but her gut told her something

rrow. Right now, she needed a drink-and some distance from

om the noise and the crowds. The crisp night air was a welcome relief, and she lea

her more than she cared to admit. She hated that he could get under her sk

e footsteps approaching until a fam

id like your

rn around. She knew who it

atly, her gaze fixed

her, his presence impos

'd ever

voice even, as if his sudden appearance wa

I start," Aiden replied, his tone both

cool metal of the railing. "If you're here to tal

er, close enough that she could feel the warmth

ted being around him-he had a way of making her feel things she didn't want to feel. Danger

to face him, her eyes narrowing. "To mess with my head s

she saw something in his eyes that wasn't cold calculation or

ut you," he admitted, his voice low and rou

from him. Aiden Wolfe didn't admit weakness, didn't admit vulne

voice quieter now, but still sharp. "After every

gaze. "Yes. Because it's the truth. You drive me crazy, Eva. And not just in bu

ouldn't quite name. She didn't want to believe him-couldn't believe him-but th

emotions that were rising to the surface. "You don't get to do this. You do

hand, his thumb brushing against her cheek. "I'

s touch. She hated how good it felt-how right it felt. But her mind was still

spered, her voice trembling slightly d

ed, his gaze dropping to her lips before

her mind warred with itself. She had spent so long fighting him, pushing him away, convincing herself that he was the

t terri

asking," she said, her voice

ly, enough to make her breath hitc

The kiss was fierce, intense, and utterly consuming. It wasn't a gentle or tentative explorati

ad other ideas. Her hands found their way to his chest, gripping the fabric of his suit jacket a

ainst hers in a way that made her head spin. The kiss deepened, and any semblance

the games. All that mattered was the way his lips felt on hers, the way his body fit pe

shing back. Eva pulled away, her breath coming in short

ything," she said, her

rustration passing through them. "It

tween them once more. "This-whatever this is-it's not going

hair, his jaw tightening.

own words. "But I have to. Because if I don't, I'll lose everything I'

don't have to lose anything, Eva. I'm not asking you to give u

"Trust you? After everything

slipping away. "I'm not the bad guy here, Eva. You mi

ve been trying to take me down from the moment we met. Eve

looked like he was about to argue. But th

e losing its edge. "But this isn't

eve him-wanted to believe that this wasn't just another one of his games. B

she said, her voice bare

Eva felt the weight of her words pressing down on her. She knew what she was giving up by

fight her on it, that he might push back and refuse to let her walk away.

aid quietly, his voice tinged w

she had never seen before. But she knew she had to walk away. She couldn't let herself

away, her footsteps echoing on the terrace

weight of his gaze lingered, and deep down, she