Kasra led Lara down the grand circular staircase, the soft glow of the recessed lights illuminating their path to the cellar in the upper basement.

  The sleek, semicircular cellar, its walls clad in quartz crystal, displayed countless bottles of rare vintages. Stepping inside, he released her hand and reached for a bottle on the top shelf—a 1999 Romanée-Conti. He handed the bottle to her, his fingers lightly grazing hers, leaving Lara with an odd flutter in her chest. Then he picked up a bottle opener, two Baccarat wine glasses, and a decanter and carried them to the adjacent living room.

  He kindled the linear fireplace, its flames casting a golden glow over the space. Then he uncorked the bottle and poured the wine into the decanter before settling beside Lara on the cream-colored suede sofa. She felt the warmth from the flames and the quiet intensity of his presence as his arm draped casually over the backrest behind her, bringing him closer than she anticipated.

  “It’s Saturday tomorrow. We can sleep in. How about a glass of wine before bed?” he asked, insouciantly.

  “Sure,” she hummed, though a trace of apprehension laced her reply. “But should I still call you ‘brother’? Or… ‘Chief’? I’m not sure what’s appropriate.”

  Kasra smirked as he poured the wine. “Just call me Kasra. Or Kas. Alright?”

  Something shifted in her, a discomfort she couldn’t quite place. She lowered her gaze to her glass, swirling the dark liquid. “Kasra,” she began cautiously, “you mentioned you had something to discuss. What is it?”

  He leaned back, deadpan. “Lara, have you ever been in a relationship?”

  The question caught her by surprise, a blush creeping up her neck. She took a generous sip of the sweet, penetrating wine, hoping it would steady her. “No,” she murmured, her response clipped.

  As someone who suffers from mysophobia, he was relieved by her answer, though he quickly masked it. “Really? You’re so beautiful, Lara. Surely someone must have tried.”

  His remarks almost unraveled her carefully maintained composure.

  “Both my parents are martial arts instructors,” she mused, her explanation economical. “Need I say more?”

  Kasra chuckled. “Remind me to thank them someday.”

  The comment made her frown, confusion creasing her forehead. “Thank them? What for?”

  “For swatting the pesky flies away,” he said, grinning.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she looked away. She had no comeback.

  After a beat, he leaned in just a little closer. “Lara, do you feel awkward around me?”

  Her fingers tightened around her glass. She sensed his gaze, sharp and probing, and nodded. “Yes. A little.”

  “Why?” he asked, his demeanor gentler now, as if coaxing a hidden truth.

  Silence stretched between them, but he didn’t rush her. Finally, she summoned her courage and said, “Because… you’re my boss.”

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  Kasra exhaled slowly, processing and calculating. “Is that the only reason?”

  The question cut through her thoughts, her pulse quickening. *What did he mean by that? What is he really asking?*

  Kasra’s resolve grew stronger. He decided to cut to the chase. “Lara, you know my mother and sister have been trying to set us up, right?”

  She froze, stunned into silence.

  *Really?*

  Studying her micro-expressions, he was quietly amused. “Tell me,” he pressed on, “do you… dislike me?”

  “N-No,” she stammered, her cheeks burning. “Of course not.”

  “Then is it just because I’m your boss?” he continued, a hint of impatience creeping into his tone.

  Her reticence was answer enough.

  Realization dawned. His hand, resting on the sofa’s backrest, gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the gesture tender and doting.

  “Lara,” he rasped, “I’m really into you.”

  Her breath hitched, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs. She couldn’t tear her eyes from his, drawn in by their intensity like a moth to a flame. She barely registered his other hand tilting her chin up, bringing her face closer to his.

  “I want you, Lara… I want you to be my woman.”

  A tremor ran through her. She swallowed hard, nervousness etched in her voice. “But you’re Chief. It’s not appropriate.”

  Aware that she’d become uncomfortable, he withdrew his hand from her chin. “What if I weren’t your Chief? Would that make a difference?”

  Panic flared in the pit of her gut. “A–Are you saying I’ll no longer be with TITAN? Am I being fired?”

  Her reaction knocked the wind out of Kasra’s lungs. He sighed, shaking his head. “No, of course not. I’m just saying I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be with you. Name your terms.”

  She blinked, still in disbelief. “But… I haven’t had the time or inclination for a relationship.”

  A shadow crossed his face, an unmistakable edge of hurt lining his next words. “So, are you rejecting me?”

  She bit her lip, feeling the weight of his stare. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her uncertainty palpable. “This is so unexpected.”

  He studied her for a moment, a trace of doubt hanging on his mien. “Do you at least like me a little?”

  Her eyes roamed over his exotic features, lingering on his full lips. After what felt like an eternity, she finally whispered, “I… I like you.”

  Kasra’s stoic expression slowly melted into a smile. “Then why reject me? If it’s because of our work relationship, I can transfer you to Data Dynamics. You’d be under Seven’s supervision. It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  Lara considered his proposal, the offer taking root in her mind as she stared dazedly at the crimson liquid in her glass. It was practical. Logical. But she couldn’t wrap her head around the thought of being in a relationship with Sana’s brother.

  “When did you start feeling this way?”

  He hesitated, a rare vulnerability in his tone. “Since the first time James introduced us, I was hooked. But you left for Boston with Sana shortly after that.”

  That long ago? Lara was taken aback. “Why are you confessing now?”

  Kasra’s heart skipped a beat. “Spending these past few days with you made me realize I can’t ignore my feelings anymore. I’m ready to settle down, but I’ll only do so if it’s with you.”

  His declaration hung between them, heavy and real. She found her defenses crumbling.

  “Okay.”

  It was a simple response, yet Kasra was dumbfounded. It took him a moment to regain his senses. “You agree? Just like that? No conditions?”

  Her smile widened slightly. “As long as I’m not dating my boss.”

  Kasra chuckled. “That’s it?”

  She inclined her head, feeling a lightness in her core as the tension within her eased.

  But Kasra’s all-business disposition returned, a cunning glint shining through. “Since you have no other conditions, let me propose mine.”

  He leaned closer as he shared, “I’m not like Kimi, who has to ask Kate for permission for anything. If you agree to be with me, we’re two consenting adults. We’ll be emotionally and physically intimate. Think carefully—I want to offer you the opportunity to change your terms.”

  She gasped, finding his words jarring. She hadn’t considered the depth of his expectations, instantly regretting her nonchalant agreement earlier.

  Can I take it back?

  She wrestled with his barefaced conditions, reaching for the bottle of liquid courage and pouring another glassful, trying to steel herself.

  Kasra watched her every move, circling her with the patience of a predator. Silence stretched between them, taut and electric. He could sense her hesitation, her nerves fraying, but her resolve remained stubbornly firm. The question hung heavy: would she truly yield, or slip from his grasp?