Luca Russo was no stranger to control. He had built his life around it—controlling his emotions, his career, and everything in between. For years, he had mastered the art of compartmentalization, neatly tucking away the parts of himself that hurt too much to face. But with Elena back in his life, all of that control was unraveling.

Ever since their kiss, things had changed between them. The taste of her lips still lingered in his mind, an intoxicating reminder of the passion they once shared, and that kiss had ignited every emotion he had tried to bury for so long. But now, she was pulling away, avoiding him like a bad habit she was trying to break.

At first, he didn't understand what was happening. After that night in the conference room, Luca had expected her to let him in, to allow the walls she had built around her heart to crumble. But instead, she had become distant. She started making excuses, avoiding his gaze in meetings, finding reasons to leave the office early, and limiting their conversations to strictly business. The playful banter, the tension, the undercurrent of something unspoken between them—it was all gone.

And it was driving him insane.

He wasn't used to being ignored, least of all by her. Every time Elena ducked away from him, it felt like a punch to the gut. He couldn't stand it. The gnawing jealousy that had festered inside him, especially regarding Aaron, was bad enough. But this silent avoidance? It was worse. It made him feel powerless in a way he hadn't felt in years.

"Why the hell won't she talk to me?" he muttered to himself, pacing around his office like a caged lion. The rain outside was a mirror to the storm raging inside him, and he had been snapping at his employees all day. He couldn't focus on work when every fiber of his being was consumed with thoughts of Elena.

He threw himself into his leather chair, running a frustrated hand through his dark hair. He replayed their last conversation over and over in his mind, trying to pinpoint where it had all gone wrong. The kiss had been real, raw, filled with all the years of unresolved tension between them. He knew she felt something—he had seen it in her eyes, felt it in the way her body had melted into his. But now, it was like that moment had never happened.

A knock on his office door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," Luca called out, his voice sharper than he intended.

His assistant, Rosa, stepped inside, a worried look on her face. "Mr. Russo, you've been asked to review the client proposal for next week's meeting."

Luca barely registered her words, his mind still stuck on Elena. He forced himself to nod, taking the folder she handed him, but even as he glanced over the documents, nothing seemed to make sense. All he could think about was finding a way to get her to talk to him again.

"Rosa," he said suddenly, setting the papers down. "Elena—what's her schedule like today?"

Rosa hesitated, clearly unsure how to answer. She glanced at him cautiously. "I believe she has a few meetings, but... sir, if I may speak freely?"

Luca's eyes snapped up to hers, his patience wearing thin. "Go on."

"She's been avoiding you," Rosa said softly, as if afraid of his reaction. "I've noticed it, and I think everyone else has, too."

Luca clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the armrests of his chair. "I know," he said through gritted teeth. "I want to know why."

Rosa sighed, her expression sympathetic. "Maybe you should give her some space."

"Space?" Luca stood up abruptly, the frustration finally boiling over. "I don't want to give her space, Rosa. I want her to talk to me. I want her to stop running away."

He didn't wait for a response. He stormed past his assistant and out of his office, determined to find Elena and get some answers. He wasn't going to stand by and let her avoid him any longer. Not when there was so much left unsaid between them.

As he made his way to her office, Luca's mind raced. He knew that part of Elena's distance was because of Aaron, that much was clear. Every time she spent time with that guy, Luca felt his blood boil with jealousy. He couldn't help it. Aaron had been a constant in her life when he hadn't been, and that stung more than he cared to admit.

When he reached Elena's office, he paused outside her door, his hand hovering over the handle. He needed to calm down, to think clearly. Bursting in and demanding answers wouldn't get him anywhere. He had to be smart about this.

But before he could knock, the door opened, and there she was—Elena, looking as beautiful and composed as ever, her face calm, though her eyes held the faintest hint of surprise when she saw him.

"Luca," she said, her voice measured. "What are you doing here?"

He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, closing the door behind him. "We need to talk."

She crossed her arms, her posture defensive. "I'm busy right now. Can this wait?"

"No, it can't." Luca's tone was firm. "Why are you avoiding me, Elena?"

Her eyes flickered with something—guilt? Anger? He couldn't tell. She shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I'm not avoiding you."

"Bullshit," he shot back, taking a step closer to her. "You've been pulling away ever since that night in the conference room. Don't pretend like nothing's changed."

Elena looked away, her fingers tightening around her arms as if she were trying to hold herself together. "Luca, I don't know what you want me to say. That kiss—it was a mistake. We're not those people anymore."

Luca's heart sank at her words, but he refused to back down. "You don't mean that. I saw it in your eyes, Elena. I felt it. You still feel something for me, don't you?"

She hesitated, and for a split second, he saw the vulnerability she was trying so hard to hide. But then, just as quickly, she shut it down. "I can't do this with you again, Luca," she whispered. "You left once, and I had to pick up the pieces of my life after you were gone. I'm not going to let you hurt me again."

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He had expected her to be angry, maybe even indifferent, but hearing the pain in her voice—the pain he had caused—it shook him.

"Elena..." he began, his voice softening, his hand reaching out toward her.

But she stepped back, creating a physical barrier between them. "No. You don't get to do this. You don't get to come back into my life and act like everything's fine, like we can just pick up where we left off."

Luca clenched his fists, trying to control the frustration boiling inside him. "I know I screwed up. I know I hurt you, but damn it, I'm trying to make it right. I don't want you with him, Elena. I can't stand the thought of you with Aaron."

Her eyes widened, and a bitter laugh escaped her lips. "That's what this is about? You're jealous?"

"Of course, I'm jealous," Luca snapped, his voice rising. "You think I can just sit by and watch you with him? After everything we've been through?"

Elena stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she turned away, her back to him as she took a deep, steadying breath.

"I need time, Luca," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need space to figure out what I want."

Luca stood there, feeling like the ground had shifted beneath him. He had never been one to give up easily, and he wasn't about to start now. But for the first time, he realized that no matter how much he wanted her, no matter how much he was willing to fight for them, Elena had to choose him too.

And right now, he wasn't sure if she would.