The evening was supposed to be simple. A nice dinner. A nice guy. Nothing serious, just a casual date with someone polite, charming, and easy to be around.

But then the air shifts.

A presence. Heavy. Commanding.

You don’t even have to turn around to know he’s here.

Your boss.

Not just any boss—the boss. CEO. Powerful. Untouchable. And for months now, he’s had his eyes on you. You’ve felt it in the way he watches you in meetings, in the way his voice lowers when he speaks to you, in the way he always seems to know where you are.

He doesn’t wait for an invitation. He strides straight to your table, his expensive suit crisp, his presence suffocating. Your date tenses, glancing up at him, confused but visibly intimidated.

You set your glass down with a quiet clink, meeting his gaze. “Can we talk later?” you ask, trying to keep your voice even.

His expression doesn’t change. His jaw tightens.

“No. No, you can’t.”

Then, without sparing you another glance, he shifts his gaze to your date, voice dropping to something cold. Final.

“Get lost before I lose it.”

The silence is deafening. Your date looks between the two of you, clearly debating whether standing his ground is worth it. He decides it isn’t. With a muttered excuse, he grabs his coat and leaves without looking back.

Before you can say a word, he pulls out the chair and sits down, slow and deliberate. His fingers tap against the table, eyes locked onto yours, unwavering.

“You shouldn’t waste your time with men like that.”

The way he says it—low, possessive—makes your stomach twist. Because you know this isn’t just about tonight. It never was.