The tension in Gabriel’s office was intoxicating, wrapping Lena in a cocoon of forbidden desire and dangerous curiosity. She stood fixed in his embrace, every nerve ending on fire as his fingers grazed her skin. His closeness was a heady mix of power and allure, and she felt herself teetering on the edge of something she couldn’t quite name.

“Do you like playing with fire, Miss Hartley?” Gabriel’s voice was a velvet whisper, his breath fanning across her cheek. His hand slid from her wrist to her lower back, pulling her even closer. The heat of his body seeped through the thin fabric of her dress, making her breath quicken.

Lena swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. “Do you usually handle your inquisitors like this, Mr. Thorne?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Only the ones who make an impression.”

Their gazes locked, unspoken words weaving between them. Gabriel’s eyes darkened, and Lena felt a pulse of electricity shoot through her. She wondered if he could feel it too, this inexplicable connection that seemed to grow stronger every second they spent together.

“You’re dangerous, you know that?” he murmured, leaning closer. “And yet, I can’t seem to stay away.”

Before Lena could respond, the door to Gabriel’s office swung open, and Vanessa waltzed in, her eyes narrowing at the sight before her. The interruption was like a splash of cold water, snapping Lena out of the magnetic pull Gabriel had on her.

“Gabriel, we need you at the—oh,” Vanessa paused, her eyes flicking between Gabriel and Lena with a knowing smirk. “I didn’t realize you had company.”

Gabriel’s grip on Lena loosened, but he didn’t step back. “This is Miss Hartley from The City Insider. She’s working on a piece about our latest expansion.”

Vanessa’s smile was sugary sweet, but Lena could sense the underlying hostility. “How fascinating. Well, don’t let me interrupt. However, Gabriel, the Board is getting restless.”

Gabriel’s eyes flicked back to Lena, a silent message passing between them. “Of course, Vanessa. We’re almost done here.”

Vanessa gave a curt nod and left, the door clicking shut behind her. The spell broken, Lena stepped back, putting some much-needed distance between them.

“I should go,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Thorne.”

Gabriel’s eyes lingered on her, as if memorizing every detail. “We’re not finished, Miss Hartley. I expect to see you again.”

---

Later that night, Lena returned to her Brooklyn apartment, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn’t shake the sensation of Gabriel’s touch or the way his presence seemed to consume her. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Pouring herself a glass of wine, she sank onto her couch and opened her laptop, intending to dive back into the files she’d received. As she scrolled through the documents, she couldn’t help but wonder about Gabriel’s true nature. Was he the ruthless tycoon the rumors painted him to be, or was there more to the man hidden behind the steel façade?

A knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. Frowning, she set her glass down and padded to the door, peering through the peephole. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw who it was.

“Gabriel?” she breathed, opening the door. “What are you doing here?”

He stood in the dimly lit hallway, his expression unreadable. “Can I come in?”

Lena hesitated, a flurry of conflicting emotions coursing through her. Finally, she stepped aside, allowing him to enter. The air grew thick with tension as she closed the door behind him.

“How did you find me?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest.

Gabriel’s gaze was intense. “I have my ways, Lena. We need to talk.”

She swallowed, trying to steady her racing heart. “About what?”

He moved closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I can’t get you out of my head. The way you challenge me, the way you see through me—it’s dangerous.”

Lena’s breath hitched, their proximity making her pulse pound in her ears. “You’re the dangerous one, Gabriel.”

A wry smile curved his lips. “Perhaps. But there’s something between us, Lena. Something I can’t ignore.”

Her mind raced, torn between the undeniable attraction she felt for him and the perilous path she was treading by getting close to him. “What do you want from me?” she whispered.

Gabriel’s hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her lower lip. “The truth,” he said softly. “And maybe something more.”

His touch sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt herself leaning into him despite the warning bells ringing in her mind. Their lips were mere inches apart when her phone buzzed on the coffee table, shattering the moment.

Both of them froze, the spell broken. Reluctantly, Lena stepped back and picked up her phone. The message was from Rachel: “Urgent: We need to meet. Found something big.”

Lena glanced back at Gabriel, who studied her with a mixture of curiosity and frustration. “I have to go.”

Gabriel’s eyes darkened. “This isn’t over, Lena. We’ll continue this conversation.”

---

The next day, Lena sat in a dimly lit café, her nerves tingling with anticipation. Rachel had been cryptic in her message but adamant that what she had found was crucial.

Rachel walked in, her expression grave as she slid into the seat opposite Lena. Without a word, she handed over a slim folder.

Lena opened it, her eyes widening as she took in the contents. “Is this...?”

Rachel nodded, her eyes sharp. “A connection between Thorne Enterprises and a series of illegal offshore accounts. This could bring Gabriel Thorne down.”

Lena’s mind whirled. She was sitting on a powder keg, and any wrong move could ignite an explosion. But entangled with the man himself, she felt as if she were walking in a minefield.

“Be careful, Lena,” Rachel warned, her tone softer now. “This is bigger than either of us imagined. If Thorne finds out you have this...”

Lena nodded, determination hardening her resolve. “I’ll handle it.”

As Rachel left, Lena sat lost in thought, the weight of the information heavy on her shoulders. She was about to blow Gabriel’s world wide open, and the repercussions would be extraordinary.

But as she thought of their recent encounters, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the lines between her professional duty and personal emotions were dangerously close to blurring. And in the game of secrets and seduction, any slip could be fatal.