Clark's POV

The smell of fresh coffee lifts my mood slightly as I pour the steaming liquid into a mug.

I look up when Elias enters the kitchen shirtless, wearing only pajama pants. I feel the heat rushing to my face because I know exactly what lies beneath the purple fabric. My eyes roam up and trace the defined lines of his chest before snapping back to his face.

"Good morning," he says with a sleepy smile, opening the fridge.

"Morning." I lean against the counter and sip my coffee to hide my stare as he takes out eggs and bacon.

Things have gotten so comfortable between us, so domestic, in such a short time. I still don't know how to process it all.

But I guess there is a part of me that loves how I can let my guard down and just be myself with him.

He might not know it, but I cherish the unguarded simplicity between us. Being with him allows me to remove the mask of being Clark Ashford, The Cutthroat CEO of Ashford Technologies.

But there is another part of me that hates it because it's in those vulnerable moments where I'm most at risk of telling him things he shouldn't know about.

Like last night, when I came close to slipping up about the anonymous threat I had received.

I've debated looping him in so many times, but I've ultimately decided against it. He's got enough worry on his plate with his shop troubles. It wouldn't be right to burden him with problems that aren't his to solve.

Speaking of which...

I pull out my phone and swipe across the screen. My heart sinks when I find no new messages from the private investigator I'd hired. Sighing, I pocket the device just as Elias breaks a few eggs in a bowl.

"Have you already eaten?" he asks.

"I have. Thanks for asking." I finish my coffee and pretend to read the news on my phone while he silently works on his breakfast. I try to keep my staring at him to a minimum until it's for me to leave. "I'm headed out. Have a good day today."

I get halfway to the front door when he calls out for me.

"Clark, wait!" I turn back as he closes the distance between us. "Sorry, I don't want to hold you up."

"It's fine. What's up?"

"I just wanted to thank you again for last night. For letting me vent, even though I was a hot mess."

"Oh. You're welcome." A smile tugs at my lips despite the weight on my shoulders. "And I meant what I said. I'm here for you, Elias. Whatever you need me for."

He takes another step closer, mere inches between us now, and my pulse kicks into overdrive.

"I meant what I said, too." His hand finds mine, warm and sure. "About you sharing things with me."

"Elias..."

"I can tell that something's been bothering you, Clark. You can talk to me too, you know. I want you to."

I exhale heavily. How can I possibly tell him an unknown enemy wants to destroy me? Maybe even destroy us? And especially after I'd promised him ahead of time that our arrangement would be smooth sailing.

The threat is just a threat for now.

But what happens if people end up getting hurt? Or worse?

Fuck. That's a valid point I hadn't considered until this moment. I could never live with myself if something were to happen to Elias. Maybe I should tell him everything. The heads-up could be useful.

"You overthink too much." Gentle fingers cup my face and then Elias's mouth is on mine, kissing me with a slow sweetness that makes my entire body ache. "You can trust me," he whispers as he pulls back.

The words are on the tip of my tongue; the truth begging to burst free. But then my phone sounds with a new message and I wrench myself away from him.

"Sorry, I have to go." Hurrying out the front door, I pull up the text. It's from Mark, the private investigator.

Mark, PI: No leads yet. Still hunting.

"Damn it," I curse under my breath, striding off toward the car with Elias's kiss still haunting my lips.

I would've liked to have fantasized about him for the rest of the day, but unfortunately, I have fires to put out.

Work keeps me busy and, per usual, I go through the motions. Sitting through meetings, hosting meetings, signing documents, and everything in between. It's all just white noise playing in the background. I'm present but I'm really not. I'm listening, but I'm not keeping anything in.

It's unlike me, and of course, my grandfather is the one who calls me out on my shit.

"Hey, Clark." He grabs me by the arm in the hallway after we leave yet another meeting. "Are you alright?"

Frustration bubbles up inside me and I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Why does everyone keep asking me that? Do I not look like I'm alright?"

"No, you don't. You look like you haven't slept in days," he points out. "Are things not going well with Ava and Project Terra? Should I be concerned?"

Something in me snaps. "Seriously? Is that all you care about?"

"What the hell are you on today, huh?" He remains unfazed, fixing me with a stern look. "You seem to forget I helped raise you, Clark. I know I have a hard time showing it, but of course, I care about you."

Stop being such a dick to everyone. It's not their fault that someone is out to get you.

"I know. I'm sorry—" My phone cuts me off. My grandfather merely nods before walking away.

I check the text, thinking it's an update from Mark, but I'm confused when I see it's from the head of IT. They only reach out to me personally when big shit goes down, so I know he isn't about to give me good news.

Quinn, IT Manager: Hey, boss. Wanted to give you a heads-up about a possible security breach.

Quinn, IT Manager: Do you have time for a quick one on one? I'm here at the office.

A chill slides down my spine.

This has to be the work of the person who's after me. Who else could be responsible? We haven't had a breach in...well, years. I know that to be a fact because I actually give a shit about my company, so when I took over, I made sure to build personal relationships with the head of each department.

Mentally preparing myself for some bullshit, I head to his office and don't emerge until an hour later.

"Thanks, Quinn. Let me know if something else pops up." I shake his hand before leaving.

The headache I had earlier has since blossomed into a full-blown storm behind my eyes, each throbbing pulse a reminder of the narrow escape the company just pulled.

Quinn ended up giving me some good news, much to my surprise. Nothing got stolen or leaked from our database. All confidential files remain untouched because his team caught the attack early on. A small win for today.

As I near my office, I'm forced to do a double-take after spotting Elias.

What the hell is he doing here?

He's laughing at something with Yasmine, my personal assistant, as both of them stand near my office door. I can only assume she let him up here, but why? What does he want?

Oh, no. Has something happened to him? Is the same person after me now coming for him?

Calm down and ask, dipshit.

"What's going on over here?" The question comes out harsher than intended, a byproduct of stress and shock twisting my tongue. I look at Elias. "You okay?"

"Perfectly fine." Elias smiles, holding up a familiar brown bag. "You brought me lunch the other day, so I figured it was time to return the favor."

"Oh. I see." Just like that, the tension in my shoulders eases a fraction. "Come in," I say, nodding toward my office. "Thanks, Yasmine. You can go now."

The second the door clicks shut behind us, I grab Elias and push him up against it, claiming his mouth in a kiss I hadn't known I needed until now. He makes a small noise of surprise before sinking into me, kissing me back with equal passion.

This is exactly what I needed, what I've been craving all damn day.

Elias drops the bag of food, and then his hands slide under my suit jacket, roaming over my back, as mine grip his hips, yanking him flush against my body. He moans into my mouth and desire crashes through me, hot and heavy. I'm seconds away from hoisting him up and carrying him to the desk when he breaks the kiss with a breathless little laugh.

"Had I known you'd react like this, I'd have brought you lunch every day," Elias teases, eyes sparkling.

"Sorry." I chuckle, stepping back to put some much-needed distance between us. "I didn't mean to jump you like that. I just..."

"Needed a break from all this?" Elias finishes, waving a hand to indicate the office. I nod, and he offers me the bag of food again. "Oliver says hello, by the way."

Taking it with a murmured thanks, I lead us over to the chairs by the coffee table.

As we settle in, Elias glances around, letting out a low whistle. "Nice place you got here."

"It used to be," I reply, unable to keep the bitterness from my tone. "Feels more like a prison these days."

Elias frowns. "You're making this more difficult than it needs to be, Clark."

"Huh?" I finish my bite of burger before asking, "Making what more difficult?"

"Whatever the hell it is that's eating you up inside."

Well, damn. Maybe I haven't been putting on as convincing an act as I thought. "Elias, please drop it."

"No. I don't like how I'm able to depend on you, but you can't seem to do the same with me. I know things are all over the place between us right now, but I thought, at the very least, we were friends."

Friends.

The word sets me off because it's not nearly enough. Not when I've been longing for so much more. It's truly a shame our shitty circumstances prevent us from ever being more than that cheap, flimsy title.

"I don't need more friends, Elias," I snap. "Please remember our arrangement ends in a year. All I need is for you to do the job I'm paying you for. That's it."

He flinches as if my words stuck him physically, and instant regret floods through me.

"I understand," he says coolly, getting to his feet. "Sorry for misreading you."

As he marches out, I rise too, intent on grabbing him and begging for his forgiveness. But my legs won't move, and my voice refuses to call him back. I collapse back into my seat after the office door slams shut.

"Fuck!" In a fit of rage, I swipe my arm across the coffee table, sending the magazines and everything else flying across the room.

I drop my head into my hands and take a shuddering breath, trying to get myself under control. I haven't lost it like this in a while. It's embarrassing and frustrating and... Elias deserves better. So much better.

None of this was ever supposed to happen. Elias was never supposed to matter this much. But he does, and in ways I've never experienced before. That's the scariest part. I have no clue what the fuck I'm doing when it comes to him.

Outside of being a CEO and growing up with a cozy privilege only a few receive...I'm beginning to wonder if Elias has become the most real thing in my life.