Captured by the CEO'S Charm

of freshly brewed coffee, and the soft hum of jazz played in the background, creating an intimate atmosphere. When she arrived, Liam was already there, seated at a corner table, hi

in a long while, he felt seen, not as a figurehead but as a man.The café grew quieter as other patrons drifted away, leaving them in a bubble of their own making. The soft glow of the pendant lights cast shadows across Liam's face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the intensity in his eyes. Anita found herself noticing details she hadn't before the way his fingers tapped lightly on the table when he was deep in thought, the faint smile that tugged at his lips when she challenged him. She couldn't deny the pull she felt, a connection that went beyond mere professionalism and bordered on something dangerous.Liam, too, was aware of the shift. He leaned closer, his voice softening as he spoke. "You know, Anita, I've met a lot of people in my line of work, but none quite like you. You don't just ask questions you demand answers. It's... refreshing." His words carried a sincerity that caught her off guard, and for a moment, she forgot the notebook in her hand, the story she was chasing.She smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit she'd never quite shaken. "And you're not what I expected, Liam. You're more... human than the headlines make you out to be." Her voice was teasing, but there was truth in it. She'd come here expecting a battle, but instead, she found herself disarmed by his candor, his willingness to let her see beyond the façade.The conversation flowed like a dance, effortless yet charged with an undercurrent of tension. They laughed over shared stories, debated ideas with a passion that left them both exhilarated, and found common ground in their shared love of literature and art. Anita couldn't help but wonder if she was getting in over her head. She was a journalist, after all her job was to uncover the truth, not to get entangled with the subject of her investigation. Yet, with every passing minute, the lines between professional and personal blurred further.Outside, the city buzzed with life, but inside the café, it was as if time had slowed. The world felt smaller, reduced to the space between them, the words they shared, the glances that lingered a little too long. Anita's