By the time I reached his office again, the room felt different. The tension between us was almost tangible, curling like smoke in the dim light. He had left the door slightly ajar, but when I stepped inside, he rose from his desk and closed it firmly behind me. The sound of the lock clicking into place sent a ripple of something dark and electric through me.

“Sit,” he instructed, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk. His tone was calm, but there was a weight behind it that made it impossible to disobey. I sank into the chair, the leather cold against the back of my thighs. He remained standing, his presence looming over me, every movement deliberate and precise.