The phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Anna’s name on the screen. Bright. Impossible to ignore. But Harrison ignored it. His eyes locked on Julius. Each ring like a test.

Harrison reached for the phone. Julius’s heart sank. But Harrison didn’t answer it. Instead, he turned the phone off. The screen went black. The ringing stopped. The conference room went quiet.

Harrison set the phone face-down on the table. Then looked back at Julius. "There," Harrison said. His voice was calm. Almost casual. "Does that answer your question?" Julius stared at him. Unable to speak. Harrison had just ignored Anna’s call. For him.

"She’ll think something’s wrong," Julius said. His voice came out rougher than intended. "She’ll worry." "Then she’ll worry." Harrison took a step closer. "I’m busy." "With what?"

Harrison smirked. "With you." Those two words hit Julius like a physical touch. Heat spread through his chest. Down his spine. Lower.

Harrison was close now. Close enough that Julius could smell him. That dark, heavy scent that made Julius’s Alpha instincts scream and submit at the same time. "You walked into my meeting," Harrison said. His voice low. "Demanded Anna’s seat. Made a scene in front of every major business leader in this city. And now you’re upset that I chose you over a phone call?"

Julius’s hands curled into fists. "I’m not upset." "No?" Harrison stepped closer. "Then what are you?" Julius didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

Because he didn’t know what he was feeling. Anger. Jealousy. Desire. Possession. All of it tangled together until he couldn’t separate one emotion from another. Harrison studied him. Those golden-black eyes seeing too much.

"You want to know if I’m sleeping with her," Harrison said. It wasn’t a question. Julius went tense. "Are you?" "No."

"You had dinner with her." "I did." "You let her sit in that position for ten years." "I did." "You work with her every day. You trust her with your business. Your plans. Everything." Harrison nodded. "Yes."

Julius felt something twist in his chest. "Then how is she nothing to you?" Harrison went quiet for a moment. Thinking. Then he spoke.

"Anna is my manager. She’s competent. Loyal. She’s been with Nexus Global for ten years and earned every promotion she received." Harrison’s voice was matter-of-fact. Clinical. "She knows my business inside and out. She’s valuable. Essential, even." Each word felt like a knife.

"But," Harrison continued, and his voice changed. Went lower. Softer. Dangerous. "I have never wanted her. Never touched her beyond a professional handshake. Never thought about her outside of work. Never felt anything when she walks into a room."

Harrison took another step. Now they were almost touching. "She could work for me for a hundred years and it wouldn’t change. Because she’s not you." Julius looked up at him. Met those eyes that shifted colors with emotion.

"You," Harrison said, "walked into a room and I forgot how to breathe. You challenged me and I wanted to pin you against a wall. You threatened to marry someone else and I lost my mind." Harrison’s hand came up. Touched Julius’s face. Gentle. Reverent.

"You are not essential to my business, Julius. You are essential to me." Julius couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Harrison’s thumb brushed across his cheek. "Anna is my manager. You are mine."

The possessiveness in those words sent heat through Julius’s entire body. "I don’t share well," Julius said. His voice barely above a whisper. "Neither do I." Harrison’s hand slid to the back of Julius’s neck. "So stop testing me."

"I’m not—" "You are." Harrison’s hand pressed harder against his neck. Not painful. Just firm. Possessive. "You challenged me in front of the entire Nexus board. Demanded my second position. Made everyone watch you stake your claim." Julius looked away. "I was making a point."

"What point?" "That you’re mine." Harrison’s eyes went dark. Gold bleeding into black. "Say that again." Julius hesitated. His Alpha pride screamed at him not to submit. Not to give Harrison this power. But his body didn’t care about pride.

"You’re mine," Julius said again. Stronger this time. More certain. Harrison’s scent changed. Went heavy. Dark. Suffocating. Julius’s knees almost gave out.

This was what happened at the party. When Harrison trapped him with pheromones. When Julius’s Alpha power tried to fight back and failed. Enigma over Alpha. Always. But this time was different. This time, Julius didn’t want to fight it.

"And you’re mine," Harrison said. His voice went deeper. "Have been since the moment I first saw you. Will be until the day I die. Maybe longer." Julius couldn’t breathe. Harrison leaned in. Their faces inches apart.

"I don’t care about Anna. I don’t care about anyone else. There is only you." Julius could feel Harrison’s breath on his lips. Could smell that dark, possessive scent that made his body ache. "Then prove it," Julius whispered.

Harrison’s eyes flashed. Something dangerous and hungry moving through them. He pulled Julius closer. Harrison closed the gap. Julius’s heart was racing. His entire body on fire. Harrison’s hand tightened on the back of his neck. Tilted Julius’s head up.

They were so close. One movement and their lips would touch. Julius waited. Wanting. Needing. Harrison’s eyes searched his face. Looking for something. Then, just when Julius thought he would finally kiss him— Harrison stopped.

Harrison stepped back. Just enough to break the moment. Julius made a sound. Frustrated. Desperate. "Not yet," Harrison said. His voice rough. Strained. Like it was taking everything in him to hold back.

"Why not?" Julius asked. "Because when I kiss you, Julius, I won’t stop." Harrison’s grip on his neck was almost painful now. "And you’re not ready for what comes after."

"I am—" "You’re not." Harrison’s thumb pressed against Julius’s pulse point. "You still think you can fight this. Fight me. Fight what you’re feeling." Julius started to argue but Harrison continued.

"You need to understand something first." Harrison’s eyes locked onto his. Intense. Unblinking. "Once we cross this line, there’s no going back. No pretending this is just physical. No walking away when it gets too real." Julius couldn’t speak.

"I won’t let you go," Harrison said. Each word deliberate. Final. "Not for Helen. Not for your company. Not for your pride. Not for anything." "I don’t want you to let me go."

"You say that now." Harrison’s hand slid from Julius’s neck to his jaw. Cupped his face. "But you don’t know what I am yet. What I’ve done. What I’m capable of." Julius felt a chill run down his spine.

There it was again. That hint of darkness Harrison kept hidden. That secret he refused to share. "Then tell me," Julius said. "Tell me the truth." Something that looked like pain crossed his face.

"Not yet," he said again. Softer this time. "Soon. But not yet." "Why?" "Because once you know, everything changes." Harrison’s thumb traced Julius’s lower lip. "And I’m not ready to lose you."

"You won’t—" "I might." Harrison’s voice was raw now. Vulnerable in a way Julius had never heard before. "You might hate me for it. And I can’t... I can’t risk that. Not yet."

Julius saw something in Harrison’s eyes then. Something that looked like fear. Harrison Moretti. The Enigma. The King. The man who made business leaders tremble and enemies disappear. Was afraid of Julius’s reaction.

"I won’t hate you," Julius said. He didn’t know why he was so certain. But he was. Harrison looked at him for a long moment. Searching. Hoping. Then he stepped back. Put distance between them.

The loss of contact felt like a physical ache. "I should let you go home," Harrison said. His voice back to that calm mask. Like the moment of vulnerability had never happened. Julius wanted to argue. Wanted to demand answers. Wanted to grab Harrison and refuse to let him pull away.

But he could see the walls going back up. See Harrison retreating behind that mask of control. So Julius just nodded. "Okay." He walked toward the door. Each step feeling wrong.

When he reached it, he stopped. Turned back. Harrison remained by the window. Watching him. That dark, heavy scent filled the room. "Harrison," Julius said. "Yes?"

"Next time Anna calls when we’re together—" Julius met his eyes. Let Harrison see exactly what he was feeling. "Don’t turn off the phone. Answer it. And tell her you’re busy. Tell her why."

Harrison’s eyes turned black. Completely black now. "Jealous, Julius?" "Territorial," Julius corrected. "There’s a difference." Harrison looked satisfied. "Noted."

Julius left before he did something stupid. Like walking back across that room and kissing Harrison anyway. The elevator ride down felt endless. His body was still shaking. Still reacting to Harrison’s pheromones. To that almost-kiss.

His phone buzzed. A text from Harrison: Tomorrow. My office. 2 PM. We need to discuss your new position. Julius stared at the message. His new position. Sitting behind Harrison at meetings. Being Harrison’s second.

Another text came through: And Julius? Yes? Wear something that won’t distract me. I have actual work to do. Julius felt heat rush through him.

He typed back: No promises. Harrison’s response was immediate: Brat. Julius smiled despite himself. He pocketed his phone and walked out into the night. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Tomorrow. Harrison’s office. 2 PM. Julius had no intention of making it easy for him.