Gie had done everything in her power to push him out of her mind.
She had thrown herself into work, filling every second with projects, commissions, meetings, anything to keep herself from thinking about that night, that touch, that ride home where she had barely held herself together.
She had told herself—again and again—that it was nothing.
A moment of weakness.
An illusion of attraction that would fade with time.
She just needed distance.
Time.
And yet—
The moment her phone rang, the moment she saw his name flash across the screen, her stomach dropped.
Her hands froze mid-sketch, heart pounding in her ears.
She had almost convinced herself that he wouldn't contact her again.
That what happened between them was just… a curiosity on his part.
A fleeting moment.
But now?
Now he was calling.
And the worst part?
She wasn't even hesitating.
Her hand moved on its own, picking up the phone by the third ring, her breath already shaky as she braced herself.
"Hello?"
"You're difficult to reach," Alexander's voice slid through the line, smooth, slow, dangerously controlled.
Gie's fingers tightened around the phone, pulse stuttering.
"I— I've been busy," she managed, trying to sound normal.
There was a pause.
Then—
"So am I," he said, so effortlessly. "And yet, I make time."
Oh.
Oh, God.
Her throat went dry, her body instantly betraying her all over again.
Because he wasn't even there and yet his voice alone had her stomach twisting, her thighs pressing together.
"I—" she swallowed. "Did you need something?"
Another pause.
Then—
"Lunch. Tomorrow."
She blinked.
"…What?"
"Lunch," he repeated, like it was the simplest thing in the world. "I'll pick you up."
Her breath hitched.
Her mind went blank.
And then—panic.
"I can't," she blurted. "I'm busy."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"Are you?" he mused, like he already knew she was lying through her teeth.
She swallowed, gripping her pen like it would somehow save her. "Yes. I have deadlines. Orders. Laurent has a—thing."
A thing?
God, she was pathetic.
A slow hum rumbled through the phone, and she could picture the way he was leaning back in his chair, picture the way he was watching her with that unreadable expression, calculating, waiting.
And then—
"Next time, then."
She exhaled too quickly.
"Yes. Next time," she said, praying he wouldn't hear the tremor in her voice.
And just like that—
The call ended.
The moment Gie lowered her phone, she felt a sharp pinch on her arm.
"Ow!"
She jerked, turning to find Alina grinning at her like the devil incarnate.
"What the hell was that for?!" Gie demanded, rubbing her arm.
"For being a wuss."
Gie's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
Alina crossed her arms, deadpan. "You just turned down a lunch date with the hottest, sexiest, richest man you've ever met."
"It wasn't a date!"
Alina rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. He asked you to lunch. He wanted to see you. That's a date, babe."
"It's not—he's not interested in me like that."
Alina gave her a look. "Gie. Be serious. Alexander Millers does not take women to lunch. He takes them to bed."
Gie's entire body combusted.
"I—I just mean," Alina continued, ignoring Gie's incoming stroke, "he's not the type to chase. And yet—he called you. He asked you."
"That doesn't mean—"
"It means you're overthinking," Alina cut in, rolling her eyes. "It means you should stop acting like a nun and just go with it."
Gie's face burned. "He's not looking for a relationship."
Alina raised a brow. "And?"
"And—" Gie floundered, "—and I don't do casual."
Alina gave her a long, meaningful look.
Then—
"Babe," she sighed dramatically. "By the way you're going, you will never lose your virginity."
Gie choked.
"WHAT?!"
Alina smirked. "Or get married, for that matter."
"I—" Gie's entire soul was leaving her body. "How is this even part of the conversation?!"
Alina shrugged. "Because he's the only one who got you like this."
Gie's breath hitched.
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Because that was the problem.
Alina was right.
No one had ever made her feel like this.
Not even close.
No one had made her ache, crave, burn like this man did—without even touching her.
And that?
That was dangerous.
Because she knew—if she gave in, even a little, she wouldn't be able to stop.
And the worst part?
She wasn't sure she wanted to.