The Billionaire's Forbidden Touch

the weight he placed on others' shoulders. And yet, every task he handed h

It was proving, time and again, that she could not only meet his demands but exceed them. She'd b

ay in the background, quietly handling what was expected of her. But as the clock inched toward

ard the familiar sound of John's footsteps approaching her desk. She didn't have to look up to

is voice cutting th

d up from her tablet.

ething she couldn't quite place. "There's an important meeting with a potential client

lightly. "Yes, sir.

answering. "They're with The Hamilton Group. I

ze settling on her with a sharp intensity. "Make sure

The unspoken weigh

but feel a twinge of nerves. If John was asking her to join him for this meeting, it meant

e ready," she said

rocessing the implications. She couldn't afford to overthink this. Not now. The Hamilton Group could

ion. She spent the next few minutes preparing the necessary materials, her hands moving with practiced spe

ommanding figure as usual. His sharp suit and impeccable posture exuded confidence, but there was somethi

tatives hadn't arrived yet, but she knew they would be punctual. These were the peopl

r opened and the representatives walked in, Elena straightened her back and met their gaze, h

e with salt-and-pepper hair, said with a curt nod. "We

smooth and controlled. "The pleasure

she noticed the subtle shifts in his demeanor. He was sharp, of course, but there was an underlying

tell when he was dissatisfied with something. The tiny twitch of his jaw. The brief narrow

, so in control. He was pushing for a better deal, for terms that would benefit Ashcroft Enterprises in the long run. She

drew to a close, someth

e'll need to discuss some final points before we move forward. I'm sure y

ment. The tension in the room thickened. This was the moment-the one where he eit

edge to it. "I understand. But I won't wait forever. You'

sense the sudden unease in the air. She had been in enough high-stak

opened her mouth to speak, but John cut her off with a single, dismiss

, reluctantly, the other man nodde

t shake the feeling that something had shifted. She glanced at John, but h

urning toward her at last. "

r voice steady. "I'll be rea

a moment longer than usual. There was something in his eyes-something tha

ments sharp and deliberate. "I expect that report on my de

d, standing as well.

no time to celebrate, no time to reflect on the meeting. She had a job to do. And if there was one thing sh

laptop. The boardroom still buzzed with the lingering energy from the tense negotiations, but it was quieter now, a reflec

ectations, the constant need to prove herself- there was no room for mistakes. Every task, no matter how small, had the weight of an e

broke her from her thoughts. The mes

l notes to me immediately. W

g to go over the meeting details tonight? That wasn't unusual. What was unusual was the tone of his message

n's secure inbox, double-checking everything for accuracy. The details mattered-every last one.

buzzed again, this time with a call. She gl

voice professional, even though a small part of

w and deliberate. "I need you

able. It wasn't a req

hortly," she replied, alread

ed hallways of Ashcroft Enterprises. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming-something more than just a

slightly ajar, and as she pushed it open, she was greeted by the familiar, imposing presence of John at his desk, his

e said witho

as different. More intimate. More intense. She felt the weight of his gaze even before he turned to fa

ck in his chair, his eyes scanning he

ite his desk. His tone was calm, but there was an

nds folded neatly in her lap. The silence between them stretched

y, Joh

is voice softer now, almost contemplative. "You

something she was used to hearing from him. She had expe

was a genuine compliment or if he was simply acknowledging her u

now, and I've been watching your progress. You're handling the tasks I give you, but I need more than just someone who can take n

expected her to evolve-quickly. She'd have to adapt to his high standards and learn to predict what cam

she said, her

ut somehow quieter. "I don't give second chances, Elena. I can't afford to. If you want to be more than jus

was no room for error. No grace period. She eithe

s a high-profile event. We have some important guests, and I expect everything to go

was a huge responsibility. The event was pivotal for Ashcroft En

m, more to reassure herself than him. "

Elena to feel the shift. He wasn't satisfied with just her c

k. "Good. I'll be expecting you to have the first draft of the event's

s already elsewhere, his mind back on work, leaving E

so slightly as she gathered her things. As s

might want to reconsider that dress for the g

ng serious or if it was just his way of asserting control over every aspect of her l

Bold. The word echoed in her ears. Was this just about the gala?

rlwind of what she had to do next. The pressure was mounting, and she ha