CHAPTER TWENTY THREE (ELARA'S POV)

As Elara stepped into Killian’s office, the air was filled with an undeniable energy. Victory. Sweet, intoxicating victory. It wasn't the finally blow yet but they had wonder ivy and the scent of her blood brought Elara now.

The Aftershock of their move on ivy was sending shockwaves through the business world as no one had expected it.

Killian stood near his desk, swirling a glass of whiskey in one of his hands. Elara couldn't help but notice the satisfactory look on his face. He did look op as she entered but she knew that he was aware of her presence.

Elara smirked as she walked over to him, taking the glass of whiskey from his hand before he could react. “You look like a man who just executed the perfect takedown.”

Killian arched a brow but let her take the drink, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I look like a man who always wins.” he corrected.

He still hadn't looked a her.

She took a slow sip, the burn of the whiskey warming her from the inside our. “Cocky.”

“Confident.” he countered.

Elara leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing her legs as she observed the chaos being displayed on the TV in his office. Ivy’s empire was crumbling, her desperate attempts at damage control was failing miserably. It was beautiful.

“Well,” she said, exhaling dramatically, “that was a spectacle.”

He finally looked at her, a smirk growing on his lips. “You sound impressed.”

“I am impressed, you struck harder than I expected.”

“I always do,” he murmured, watching her over the top of his glass of whiskey as he took it back from her. “I don’t do anything less than perfect.”

Elara chuckled, shaking her head. “No, you don’t.”

Silence then settles between them. It was thick and filled with something Elara didn't want to focus on. They had just taken the first bold step in taking down Ivy, Elara was very excited to see what would happen next. She was healing and righting the wrongs that had been done to her five years ago.

She should have left then. Should have walked away before the tension shifted into something else.

The room felt suddenly felt smaller. Her instincts were telling her that she needed to go. It was screaming at her.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she let herself look at him—really look at him. He had taken off his suit jacket, his white under shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the top, the sleeves were rolled up to reveal his strong forearms. He looked good— dangerously good.

The rays from the sun, entering form the windows casted a glow and shadows on his face which highlighted his sharp features, making him more attractive.

Killian turned upon noticing her staring, and something flickered in his dark eyes. A challenge and a warning.

Instead of looking away, she leaned against his desk, her dress riding slightly up her thighs as she crossed her legs. Killian’s eyes flickered down, his jaw tightening for a second before he looked away.

It shouldn’t have felt like a game. But it did.

“To a well-executed plan.” She raised an imaginary glass, and despite himself, he let out a small chuckle.

“To Ivy’s downfall,” he murmured before taking a slow sip of his drink.

“To us,” she corrected, her voice softer than she intended.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they both watched the news headlines flashing across the large screen in his office. Ivy was scrambling. Every second that passed, her empire bled out a little more.

Then Elara made the mistake of turning to Killian at the exact moment he turned to her.

Close. Too close.

His gaze locked onto hers again, something unreadable passing between them. There was something intoxicating about winning together. About standing side by side and tearing down their enemies like an unstoppable force.

It was dangerous.

And yet, neither of them looked away.

The moment stretched too long, their proximity was way too close. Her breath hitched when Killian’s eyes flickered to her lips briefly, it barely noticeable, but enough to make her heart start racing.

His breath fanned against her cheek, the scent of whiskey and something in his cologne made her heart skip a beat. She saw the shift in his expression then, without warning, his lips brushed against hers.

It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t calculated. It just happened.

The tension between them sparked. At first, the kiss was hesitant, as if they were testing the waters. Toeing the line that they were about to cross. Then, she heard his grip tighten on the whiskey glass like he was trying to hold on to his last bit fo restraint.

Then something snapped, Elara barely had time to react before the kiss deepened. His free hand found her waist, fingers pressing into her skin through the fabric of her dress, pulling her closer. The taste of whiskey lingered on his lips, mixing with something entirely him.

Her hands instinctively fisted in his shirt. A low sound rumbled from his throat, almost like he was angry at himself for wanting this. Wanting her.

For a moment, she let herself fall.

She let herself get consumed by the what if the moment, she loved the way her body fit against his. The way he devoured her like he had been holding back for so long.

And then, they jerked apart.

Breathing heavily 

Staring at each other like they had just done something sinful. Elara’s lips parted, she has a lot of things she wanted to say but none came out. She watched killian as his mask slipped back into place and he clenched his hands at his sides.

“This—” he started. Then stopped.

Elara’s fingers dug into the desk as her heart raced in panic. She didn't like where this was going. “That—”

Killian took a slow step back, his expression unreadable. “Was a mistake.”

Silence.

His cold words felt like a sharp blade has been pierced into her heart and twisted.

She wanted to argue but knew better.

Elara swallowed, forcing her face to remain emotionless. “Right.”

Silence.

Then, without another word, Killian turned sharply, grabbed his whiskey, and walked toward the door.

Elara didn’t stop him.

And as the door clicked shut behind him, she exhaled shakily, her fingers coming up and brushing against her tingling lips.

What the hell just happened?