Maya didn't realize she was jealous until the feeling lodged itself in her chest like a splinter.
It happened during the board meeting.
She sat beside Adrian at the long glass table, posture straight, expression calm. This was supposed to be symbolic—his quiet way of telling the company she mattered. That she belonged here.
Then Lila Hart walked in.
Tall.Confident.Impeccably dressed in a sharp navy suit, her heels clicking with the kind of assurance Maya recognized immediately.
Power.
"Adrian," Lila said warmly, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "It's been too long."
Maya's breath stuttered.
Adrian didn't pull away.
"Lila," he replied, his tone familiar. "You're late."
"Traffic," she said lightly, then finally turned to Maya. Her smile sharpened.
"And you must be the wife."
The wife.
"Yes," Maya said, forcing a polite smile. "Maya."
"Lila Hart. We worked together years ago," she said, her gaze flicking back to Adrian. "Very closely."
Maya felt something twist uncomfortably in her stomach.
The meeting began, but Maya barely heard it. Lila leaned toward Adrian more than necessary, murmuring comments that made him huff a quiet laugh. They shared glances—understanding looks that came from history.
From before her.
Maya clenched her hands under the table.
This is nothing, she told herself. It's business. You don't care.
Except she did.
And that terrified her.
She didn't speak to Adrian afterward.
She gathered her notes, excused herself, and left the room with more dignity than she felt. Her heels carried her down the hallway, but the ache in her chest refused to fade.
In the elevator, she stared at her reflection.
Jealousy, she thought bitterly. Against the rules.
The elevator doors opened.
Adrian was waiting.
"Maya," he said. "Why did you leave?"
She brushed past him. "I had work."
"That's not true."
She stopped walking. "Why do you care?"
His jaw tightened. "Because something's wrong."
She laughed without humor. "Congratulations. You noticed."
He stepped closer. "Talk to me."
"No," she said sharply. "That's also against the rules."
Something dark flickered in his eyes. "Since when do you care so much about the rules?"
Since they started hurting, she almost said.
Instead, she turned away.
That evening, the roles reversed.
They attended a private networking event—quiet, exclusive. Adrian stood beside Maya, hand resting lightly at her back. He watched as a man approached her, smiling a little too easily.
"Ethan Pierce," the man said, extending his hand. "Friend of the family."
Maya shook it. "Maya."
"You look stunning tonight," Ethan added. "Adrian is a lucky man."
Maya felt Adrian's hand tense.
"Oh?" Adrian said coolly. "Do I?"
Ethan laughed. "Any man would be."
Maya glanced at Adrian, surprised by the edge in his voice. "We were just talking."
"I can see that," Adrian replied, his gaze fixed on Ethan. "She has a meeting tomorrow morning."
"I wasn't aware," Ethan said smoothly.
"You wouldn't be," Adrian replied.
Maya stiffened. "Adrian."
Ethan raised his hands in surrender. "I'll let you two enjoy the evening."
As the man walked away, Maya turned to Adrian. "What was that?"
"What was what?" he asked.
"That," she said, gesturing vaguely. "The territorial act."
"I was being polite," he replied.
She snorted. "You were being possessive."
Adrian's eyes darkened. "You didn't seem to mind his attention."
"Why should I?" she shot back. "Jealousy isn't allowed, remember?"
The words hung between them.
Adrian looked at her like she'd struck something raw.
Back in the car, silence pressed in.
"You were uncomfortable today," Adrian said finally.
"With Lila?" Maya asked quietly.
"Yes."
Maya stared out the window. "You have history."
"So?" he replied.
"So it's different," she said. "You don't look at her the way you look at strangers."
"And you noticed that," he said softly.
She turned to him. "Don't."
"Why?" he asked. "Because it means something?"
Her heart pounded. "Because it shouldn't."
He exhaled slowly. "Lila is part of my past."
"And Ethan?" she asked. "Is he part of mine now?"
Adrian's jaw clenched. "No."
The answer came too fast.
"That's jealousy," Maya said.
"So was yours," he replied.
They stared at each other, the truth uncomfortably clear.
Later that night, Maya couldn't sleep.
She lay in bed, replaying the day—Lila's smile, Adrian's laughter, his hand tightening when Ethan got too close.
This is dangerous, she thought.
A knock came at her door.
She sat up. "Yes?"
Adrian stepped inside, stopping just short of the bed. The dim light softened his features, made him look less like a CEO and more like a man who didn't know where to put his hands.
"We need to talk," he said quietly.
"We already did."
"Not honestly."
Her breath caught. "What do you want from me?"
"I want you to stop pretending you don't feel this," he said.
"And you?" she asked.
His gaze dropped, then lifted again, steady and intense. "I want to understand why the idea of anyone else touching you makes me angry."
Silence roared between them.
Maya's heart slammed against her ribs.
"That's not allowed," she whispered.
"I know," he said.
He took a step closer.
Then stopped.
Because for the first time, both of them understood—
The lines weren't just blurring.
They were breaking.
Next: Chapter 12 - The Gala Night
They crossed a line they couldn't redraw.
The world would see it next.
Tonight | 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM