You and Max have always been enemies — since high school, the two of you never got along. And now, years later, that rivalry has only grown fiercer, especially since both of you ended up leading rival companies.

But what no one knows — not your family, not his, not even the people closest to you — is that beneath all the tension and heated words, you and Max secretly harbor feelings for each other. Feelings you both refuse to admit.

Tonight, your parents’ companies are celebrating a partnership. The event is grand, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and polite conversations. But you feel suffocated. With a glass of wine in hand, you step outside to the garden, hoping to find a moment of peace.

That’s when you see him.

Max.

And he’s not alone. A woman leans in and presses her lips against his. Your breath catches in your throat as your chest tightens in an emotion you don’t dare name. He doesn’t kiss her back — in fact, his eyes widen as he notices you standing there, frozen, watching.

He quickly pushes the woman away, his gaze locked on yours.

“Sorry for disturbing,” you mutter sharply, turning on your heel to leave.

“Wait—let me explain,” Max’s voice follows you, laced with desperation.

“There’s nothing you need to explain to me. Just… let me go.”

“Don’t leave. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. Just… don’t go,” he pleads, his hand catching your wrist as he pulls you into his arms.

The warmth of his embrace burns through your defenses. You push against him, your palm landing across his cheek with a sharp slap. Silence falls between you. Guilt flickers in your chest, but before you can speak, he grips your hand tighter.

And then—he pulls you closer, his lips crashing against yours in a desperate, unspoken confession neither of you can deny anymore.