TANGLED WITH MR BLACKWOOD

7:15 AM | Blackwood Towers Entrance

Lexi crossed the street toward the entrance of Blackwood Towers, her coffee trembling slightly in her hand.

She hadn't even fully processed last night — the towel, the hairdryer, his voice, that kiss — when fate decided to punch her square in the soul.

Because at that very moment, Ethan Blackwood's car pulled up.

That same sleek, obsidian-black luxury car with tires that didn't hum — they whispered. Doors that didn't slam — they exhaled.

Lexi's breath caught.

He stepped out like sin itself had been carved into a man. Black shirt, cuffs casually rolled. No tie. Just quiet, sharp elegance. But it was his eyes that ruined her.

Because they found her. Instantly.

Lexi froze.

His gaze flickered down—briefly—to the coffee in her hand, then back to her face.

And just like that… she was back in that hotel suite.

In that towel.

Under that kiss.

Feeling like her pulse had never returned to normal.

She tore her gaze away, heart thudding, cheeks flushing so fast she felt heat crawl behind her ears.

"Morning," she croaked.

"Morning," he said smoothly — too smoothly. Like he hadn't been thinking about it all night too.

She stabbed the elevator button. Hard.

When it dinged open, she fled inside like it owed her safety.

Didn't even glance back.

She pressed 18 and tried to drink her coffee.

It didn't help.

She still tasted him more than the caffeine.

8:06 AM | Floor 18 – Blackwood Signature Events

Lexi walked in stiffly, like a woman who had accidentally sinned and now had to pretend she was still holy.

But her sin detector — Maya — was already perched at her desk with a yogurt and a spoon in her mouth, just watching.

And Maya was ready.

 "Mmhm," she said mid-chew. "You look emotionally wrinkled."

Lexi ignored her.

 "You're flushed. Lips swollen. Coffee shaking. Eyes twitching."

"I'm fine."

> "You're not fine, babe. You're flustered. The good kind. The 'he touched me and now I can't find my balance' kind."

Lexi opened her laptop like it held salvation.

Maya stood and walked over. "You shared a suite. With a billionaire boss. And now you're walking like you accidentally saw him shirtless in candlelight."

Lexi: cringe

Maya: dialing Shasha

Lexi: "Maya. Don't. Please."

Maya: "Too late. This is a support circle. We're activating it."

She hit call.

Shasha (groggy):

 "Why am I hearing your voice before I brush my teeth—?"

Maya: "Lexi spent the night in a hotel suite with Mr. Blackwood and came in here glowing like the sun kissed her neck."

Lexi, whisper-hissing: "MAYA!"

Shasha (wide awake):

> "Oh, we're doing this today. Say less. Let me send voice notes."

Lexi sat down. Defeated.

Seconds later, the Shasha Sermons™ began.

Voice Note 1:

 "Lexi. Lexi. My baby. You don't just come to work blushing and blinking. That man looked at you like a limited edition. You're cooked."

Voice Note 2:

"I'm not even saying you kissed him. But did the air change? Did he stand too close? Did his hand brush yours in a way that made your blood forget where to go?"

Voice Note 3:

| Floor 38 – Ethan's Office

Ethan stood by the window, eyes locked on the skyline — but his mind was nowhere near Midtown.

He hadn't touched his coffee.

Hadn't responded to emails.

Hadn't slept properly.

Because all night, he kept replaying the way she had looked at him.

Wrapped in a towel. Cheeks flushed. Voice soft and nervous.

And this morning—

That same look.

Different outfit.

Still her.

Still undoing him.

She had looked at him by the entrance like he was a mistake she didn't want to regret. And that expression had settled in his bones like something permanent.

His hands curled slightly at his sides.

He should've walked away last night.

He should've controlled it.

But when she looked up at him and didn't say stop…

Everything else faded.

And now—

The door clicked.

Ava stepped in.

He didn't move.

She studied him for a long second. "You're unusually quiet."

Silence.

She stepped closer.

> "You've been staring at the skyline for ten minutes and not once reached for your coffee. That's new."

Still no response.

She tilted her head. "You've already broken your own rule, haven't you?"

His jaw tightened.

Ava sighed, gently.

 "I don't need details. I'm not here for that."

She waited, then added:

"But Lexi… she's not like the ones before."

He didn't look at her, but his silence was enough.

 "She's young. Hopeful. A little unguarded. Which means if you touch her the wrong way—"

"I won't," he said, voice low. Firm.

Ava nodded. "Then don't rattle her. Don't disappear. And don't ruin her for sport."

Silence again.

She turned to go, then paused at the door.

 "If it's just one night, Ethan… let her go now."

He said nothing.

But the look in his eyes said everything.

He wasn't sure one night would be enough anymore.

Later That Night | Lexi's Apartment

Lexi lay on her bed, blanket pulled up to her chin, the ceiling fan humming lazily above.

But her brain?

Absolutely not lazy.

Her phone was lighting up like fireworks.

Maya: "I KNOW you're not asleep. You're in emotional afterglow." 💬 Shasha: [9 voice notes in a row.]

Lexi stared at the screen in defeat.

The last voice note was literally just Shasha whispering,

 "Tell me what his lips tasted like, woman. Don't be shy."

She groaned, rolled over, and buried her face into a pillow.

 "Why did I kiss him?" she mumbled.

"Why did he kiss me like that?"

Another ping.

 Maya: "If you don't drop a FULL breakdown in the next five minutes, I'm reporting you to the friendship authorities."

Lexi exhaled and finally typed back:

Lexi:

"Okay. Fine. It was slow. He smelled stupidly good. And I'm not okay."

Shasha responded immediately.

 Shasha: "I KNEW IT. I CAN'T BREATHE. Did his hand slide to your thigh? Did your soul lift? Did the heavens part???"

Lexi laughed quietly into h

er pillow, heart still dancing like it had a secret.

Outside, the city sparkled.

Inside her?

So did something else.