The week passed in a blur for Elena. Work piled up as Luca slowly began taking over the reins of his father's company, and they both tried to maintain a professional distance. But the tension between them was undeniable, simmering just beneath the surface. It was the kind of tension that was hard to ignore, especially when Luca's presence stirred up so many old memories, old emotions—both good and bad.

But Elena wasn't about to let herself get swept up again. She had made a life for herself in the years since Luca left. She wasn't the same girl who had been left heartbroken, waiting for answers that never came. Now, she had people who cared for her, friends who supported her—one friend in particular.

Aaron.

Aaron had been her rock during the hardest times of her life. They had met shortly after Luca had disappeared from her life, and over time, their bond had strengthened into something special. He was the kind of person Elena could rely on—a steady presence who never let her down. Aaron wasn't just a friend; he was the one who had helped her heal.

That afternoon, Aaron was waiting for her as she finished up her work in the office. As always, his tall frame leaned casually against the door, his warm smile lighting up the room as soon as she looked up from her desk.

"Hey, you ready to grab that coffee?" Aaron asked, his voice easy and relaxed, the same way it had been since the day they met.

Elena smiled, grateful for his presence. "Yeah, just give me a second to wrap things up."

"Take your time," he replied, stepping inside and glancing at the mess of papers scattered across her desk. "Busy day?"

"You could say that," she sighed, pushing her chair back and standing. "I could use a break."

Just as she was about to grab her things, Luca walked into the office, his expression darkening as soon as he saw Aaron standing next to her. His eyes flickered with something Elena hadn't seen in years—possessiveness. He glanced between her and Aaron, his jaw tightening as if he were struggling to keep his emotions in check.

"Elena," Luca said, his voice sharper than usual. "I need to talk to you about the merger meeting tomorrow."

Elena frowned, her gaze flicking between the two men. "Can it wait until tomorrow morning? I was just about to head out."

Luca's eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto Aaron with a barely concealed intensity. "With him?"

Elena blinked, taken aback by the harshness in Luca's tone. "Yes. Aaron's been a friend for a long time. We're just grabbing coffee."

Aaron stepped forward, offering Luca a polite but firm smile. "Nice to meet you, Luca. I've heard a lot about you."

Luca's expression remained unreadable, but the tension in the room thickened. He didn't offer a handshake, didn't even acknowledge Aaron's gesture. Instead, he turned his attention back to Elena, his tone cold and clipped.

"I think the meeting's important enough that it can't wait," he said, his voice taut with control. "We'll need to go over the presentation and make sure everything's in place."

Elena bristled, her frustration mounting. She wasn't about to let Luca dictate her life the way he used to. "Luca, I've been handling these meetings for years without a problem. I'll go over everything first thing in the morning. Right now, I need a break."

Luca's eyes flashed with something darker—jealousy. It was unmistakable now, the way his gaze lingered on Aaron with thinly veiled hostility. "Fine," he said tersely, turning on his heel and walking out of the office without another word.

Elena let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Aaron glanced at her, his brow furrowed. "Well, that was... awkward."

She rubbed her temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache forming. "Yeah, sorry about that. He's just... intense sometimes."

Aaron shrugged, his easygoing nature taking over. "I get it. But if he keeps pulling that possessive ex-boyfriend act, I might have to start defending my honor," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Elena chuckled, appreciating his attempt to make her feel better. But inside, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Luca had always been passionate, but this felt different. There was an edge to him now, a sharpness that hadn't been there before. She didn't know if it was the stress of taking over the company, or if seeing her with Aaron had triggered something in him. Either way, it wasn't something she could ignore.

The coffee shop was bustling with its usual afternoon crowd, the familiar hum of conversation filling the air as Elena and Aaron settled into a corner booth. Aaron chatted away about his day, making her laugh with his usual wit and charm. But no matter how much she tried to focus on the conversation, her mind kept drifting back to Luca and the way he had looked at Aaron.

Jealousy. That was exactly what it was. Luca had never been the jealous type when they were younger, at least not openly. But now, it seemed like something about Aaron had set him off.

"What's on your mind?" Aaron asked, noticing her distraction.

Elena sighed, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. "Luca."

Aaron's eyebrows raised slightly. "Still?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "He's acting weird. He's... different."

"Different how?"

"He's jealous, I think. Of you."

Aaron leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a thoughtful look on his face. "I mean, it's not unusual. You two have history, right? Maybe seeing you with someone else is making him realize what he lost."

Elena frowned, her chest tightening at the thought. "Maybe. But it's more than that. He seems possessive. Like he doesn't want anyone else to be close to me, even though we're not together anymore."

Aaron's expression softened, his voice gentle. "Elena, you know I'm always here for you, right? Luca might be feeling some things, but you don't owe him anything. You've built your life, and if he can't handle seeing you with a friend, that's on him."

She smiled at Aaron, grateful for his unwavering support. He was right. Luca's feelings, whatever they were, didn't dictate her life. She had moved on—at least, she thought she had. But seeing Luca again, working with him every day, was starting to stir up feelings she had thought were long buried.

As they left the coffee shop and walked through the streets, Elena felt a pang of guilt. Aaron had always been there for her, always understood her. And yet, Luca's presence was enough to shake the foundation she had built. The two men in her life were polar opposites—Aaron was stable, kind, and reliable, while Luca was intense, unpredictable, and maddeningly attractive.

When they reached her apartment building, Aaron gave her a warm hug, holding on a little longer than usual. "If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

Elena smiled, hugging him back. "Thanks, Aaron. I mean it."

As she watched him walk away, a familiar car pulled up to the curb. Her heart sank as Luca stepped out, his eyes immediately locking onto her. His face was a mask of emotion, but the tightness in his jaw told her everything she needed to know.

He had been waiting.

"Elena," he called out, his voice low but intense as he approached. "We need to talk."

She crossed her arms, feeling the weight of his gaze. "About what?"

"About him," Luca said, his tone darkening. "Aaron."

Her heart skipped a beat, a mixture of frustration and nervous anticipation flooding her. Luca's possessiveness was starting to become suffocating, and yet, there was a part of her that couldn't help but be drawn to it. To him.

"What about Aaron?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.

Luca stepped closer, his eyes blazing with jealousy. "I don't like seeing you with him, Elena. Not like that."

She shook her head, anger flaring up inside her. "You don't get to dictate who I spend time with, Luca. Not anymore."

He reached out, grabbing her arm gently but firmly, his voice raw with emotion. "I know that. But damn it, Elena, I can't stand the thought of you being with someone else."

Her heart pounded in her chest as his words hung in the air between them. This was what she had feared—Luca wasn't just jealous. He was possessive, and it was only getting worse.

But as much as she wanted to push him away, there was a part of her—deep down—that still wanted him. Still longed for the connection they had once shared.

She didn't know how to make it stop.