Cara had seen enough.
And once Cara saw something—
She didn't ignore it.
She used it.
The moment Isabella sat down at her desk, Cara slid into the chair beside her like she had been waiting her entire life for this moment.
"So…" she started slowly.
Isabella groaned. "Cara, please don't—"
"You were about to kiss him!" Cara whisper-shouted.
Isabella's eyes widened. "Lower your voice!"
Cara leaned in closer, grinning. "Oh my God… this is even better than I thought."
"There's nothing going on," Isabella insisted, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her.
Cara raised a brow. "Right. Because assistants usually almost kiss their billionaire boss in closed offices."
Isabella covered her face. "It just… happened."
"Mm-hmm," Cara smirked. "And I'm about to make it happen again."
Isabella froze. "Don't you dare."
Cara's smile only widened.
Too late.
The opportunity came quicker than expected.
An hour later, Cara walked straight into Alexander's office without knocking.
"Sir, quick question," she said casually.
Alexander looked up, clearly irritated. "Make it quick."
"Isabella needs help organizing the client files you requested. It's a bit… complicated."
Alexander frowned slightly. "She can handle it."
Cara shrugged. "Maybe. But I figured you'd want it done perfectly."
A pause.
Then—
"Fine."
Back at Isabella's desk—
"Cara, what did you do?" Isabella whispered nervously.
Cara smiled sweetly. "Relax. I just made your life easier."
Before Isabella could respond—
Alexander appeared.
Her heart instantly skipped.
"Come with me," he said, his voice calm but firm.
Minutes later—
They were alone again.
In his office.
Door closed.
Isabella crossed her arms slightly. "Did Cara send you?"
Alexander raised a brow. "Does it matter?"
"Yes," she said quickly.
He stepped closer.
"Why?"
Her breath hitched slightly. "Because she's… interfering."
"And?"
He was closer now.
Too close.
"Maybe I don't mind," he added quietly.
Her heart raced. "You don't?"
"No."
Silence.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Cara, watching from outside through the glass panel, nearly squealed.
"Oh this is GOLD," she whispered to herself.
Inside—
The tension returned.
Stronger than before.
"You keep running," Alexander said softly.
"And you keep stopping," Isabella shot back.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"Not this time."
Her breath caught.
He reached out—
Tilting her chin slightly upward.
Their eyes locked.
Again.
And slowly—
He leaned in.
Outside—
Cara clasped her hands dramatically.
"Yes… YES… do it…"
But just before their lips touched—
Isabella turned her face slightly, her breath shaky.
"We're at work…" she whispered.
Alexander paused.
Close enough to feel her breath.
Close enough to lose control again.
A long silence followed.
Then—
He pulled back slightly.
But not far.
"After work," he said quietly.
Her heart pounded.
"After work," she repeated softly.
Outside—
Cara nearly screamed.
"IT'S HAPPENING."
And just like that—
The game had changed.
Because now…
It wasn't if.
It was when.