Chapter four: Playing with fire

THIRD PERSON POV

As Emily stepped out into the cool night air, her mind raced with anticipation. She had just secured a strong ally during her meeting with Victor Sterling. He was a man whose insights into Alexander Blackwood's world could prove invaluable. Still, she couldn’t help but feel like she has sold her souls to the devil. She tried to forget about everything that had happened, to return for once to who she was before this whole journey started. But even as she walked the bustling streets of New York City, her thoughts kept returning to the enigmatic billionaire himself.

Lost in her thoughts, Emily scarcely noticed the figure approaching her until it was too late. In fact, she had to run into him, and it was as if she had hit a wall of bricks. She looked up to find Alexander Blackwood standing before her, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. She knew she had to apologize, but words seemed to have vanished from her memory.

"Miss Carter," he greeted her, his voice smooth and composed. "What a pleasant surprise to run into you again."

She literally run into him. How could she be so stupid? He was now approaching her, speaking to her, and all she could do was stare at him.

Emily's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, her mind racing to find an excuse to explain her presence on the street at such a late hour. But before she could formulate a response, Alexander spoke again.

"I hope you don't mind me stopping you," he continued, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips. "I couldn't help but notice your determination at the charity event the other night. It's not often I encounter someone so… persistent."

His husky voice was making her heart flutter. It was clear that he was an expert in seduction, or maybe that was just who he was. Someone so alluring that anyone could fall for him. Emily had to remind herself that she needed to control her emotions.

Emily swallowed hard, her mind racing as she struggled to maintain her composure in the face of Blackwood's unwavering gaze.

"I… I was just doing my job," she managed to stammer out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander's smile widened at her response, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Of course," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But I must admit, I was impressed by your tenacity. Not many would go to such lengths to get my attention."

Emily felt her cheeks flush at his words, a mixture of embarrassment and pride swirling within her. She knew she should be careful, that every word she spoke could be used against her. But there was something about Alexander's presence that made it difficult to think straight, to remember why she was so determined to uncover his secrets in the first place.

Also she couldn’t understand when he found out what she did to get to him. It was clear that he found out everything about her. Has he been investigating her? Of course he did, but what did she had that made Alexander Blackwood so invested in her.

Before she could stop herself, Emily found herself drawn into conversation with the billionaire, their words flowing easily as they discussed everything from business to politics to their shared love of literature. Despite her better judgment, she couldn't help but be captivated by his charm and charisma, the allure of his world pulling her in like a moth to a flame.

But even as she enjoyed her conversation with him, and had all of Alexander's attention, a nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her of the dangers that lurked beneath the surface. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not with so much at stake. Her heart was also at risk by now, and she has to keep that safe.

As the conversation drew to a close, Alexander reached out to take her hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her veins. "I must be going," he said, his voice low and husky. "But I hope we'll have the chance to meet again soon."

With a final nod, as words got stuck in her throat, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Emily standing alone on the crowded street, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she watched him go, she couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter was far from over. His lingering touch still sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t deny the thrill of their encounter, and the magnetic pull that seemed to draw them together. As she made her way back to her apartment, her mind raced with the possibilities of what the future might hold.She replayed their conversation in her head, dissecting every word and gesture for hidden meanings. But try as she might, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Alexander Blackwood than met the eye.

Arriving home, Emily sank into her chair by the window, the soft glow of the city lights casting a warm embrace around her. She reached for her laptop, her fingers trembling as she opened a new document and began to type, her thoughts spilling out onto the screen.

She couldn’t deny what she felt, what Alexander lit inside her. The attraction from both ends was evident, but she had to control that emotion. If she let herself drawn into those feelings she was going to be the only one at risk. She didn’t have the power that he did, and that meant danger.

She fully concentrated on her work, she typed furiously all that came into mind. Tomorrow she had to give Kevin what she had, and if he liked it, he may give her more time. She wanted to finish this story, but Alexander was becoming more dangerous with each encounter they had.

She continued typing, the night was young, and she had a lot to say. But try as she might to focus on her work, her mind kept drifting back to Alexander. She couldn't shake the memory of his piercing blue eyes, the way they seemed to see right through her, as if he knew her deepest secrets without her having to say a word.

Lost in her thoughts, Emily didn't notice the time slipping away until the soft glow of dawn began to filter through the blinds, painting the room in hues of pink and gold. She rubbed her tired eyes, the weight of exhaustion settling in her bones, but still, she couldn't bring herself to tear away from her work.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, Emily forced herself to push through her fatigue, her determination to uncover the truth about Alexander Blackwood burning brighter than ever. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground, playing a dangerous game with a man who held the power to crush her with a single word. But she couldn't turn back now, not when she was so close to unraveling the mystery that had consumed her every waking thought.

With renewed resolve, Emily threw herself back into her work, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she chronicled every detail of her encounter with Alexander. She knew she was taking a risk, putting herself in harm's way for the sake of a story. But she also knew that sometimes, the greatest risks yielded the greatest rewards.

Hours passed in a blur as Emily poured her heart and soul into her writing, her mind ablaze with the possibilities of what lay ahead. She didn't know what the future held, whether Alexander would prove to be friend or foe in the end. But one thing was certain: she was in too deep now to turn back.

As she saved her document and shut down her laptop, Emily felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her, the weight of the world lifting from her shoulders. She knew she had a long road ahead of her, filled with twists and turns she couldn't even begin to imagine. But for now, in this moment, she was content knowing that she had taken the first step on a journey that would change her life forever.

And then her phone buzzed. Kevin’s name on full display. It was time.