Ken''s face remained as neutral as a clear sky, but the subtle tension in his fingers betrayed the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.


    He hadn’t expected Allison’s response to be even more flippant than his own.


    Without the slightest hint of embarrassment or awkwardness, he nonchntly remarked, “It doesn’t count.


    That night? Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly impressed with your performance.”


    His gaze darkened, the memory of the measly tip left on the nightstand passing through his mind like a bitter aftertaste.


    Allison''s head slowly lifted, their eyes met, and at that moment, a spark ignited between them, so intense that it seemed as if the air was charged with an invisible lightning.


    Ken’s pulse quickened and he lowered his voice.


    “Let me make it up to you?” His words dripped with defiance.


    His response was disdainful, mixed with amusement.


    “No, thank you.


    Missed opportunities don’t knock twice.


    If you screw up once, you’re done for.


    I don’t give second chances.”


    The elevator doors opened with a soft chime and they both stepped inside.


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    For a moment, silence filled the space, heavy with unspoken words.


    Just as the doors began to close, Ken suddenly stood up from his wheelchair, and at the same instant, Allison grabbed his tie, pulling him forward with surprising strength.


    Their eyes met again, and in that heated exchange, neither of them needed to speak to know exactly what they both longed for.


    “Nice tie, Mr.


    Lloyd,” Allison teased, her voice light but full of mischief.


    "Your eyes are prettier, Miss rke," he replied softly, sliding his hand behind her neck as she grasped his tie.


    Their gazes met, and in that split second, it was as if their souls wereid bare, raw and vulnerable.


    Ken could hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest, the intensity of the moment hitting him like a tidal wave.


    In a synchronized movement, they leaned toward him, their lips colliding with the force of lightning.


    The kiss was searing, fierce, unapologetic.


    Unlike their chaotic encounter before, this one was deliberate, a silent challenge woven into every touch.


    Neither of them was willing to give in.


    They both fought for control, theirbined tension sparking like two swords locked inbat.


    Allison tightened her grip on his tie, nearly taking his breath away, while Ken''s fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer as if he intended to fuse their beings into one.


    A low, tense whistle escaped between them, neither willing to budge.


    The connection between them crackled like a thunderstorm, a game of chess where one wrong move could mean total surrender.


    Yet the thrill of battle kept them still.


    This battle of wills, this heady rivalry, rumbled through their veins, resonating with something primal and deep.


    As the elevator descended rapidly, it reached the underground parking lot, bringing with it a cool st of air filled with the faint scent of gardenias.


    The doors opened with a soft clink.


    As quickly as they hade together, they separated, as if the fiery exchange had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion.


    Allison walked toward her car, casually twirling her keys between her fingers as if nothing had happened.


    “Goodbye, Mr.


    Lloyd,” she said over her shoulder, her tone calm and disinterested.


    Without a second nce, she walked away, leaving him standing in her wake.


    The way she walked away, so easily, reminded Ken of someone who gets dressed and leaves after the act: cold and distant, as if the moment had never had any real meaning.


    It wasn’t until the car disappeared into the distance that Ken noticed the fire still coursing through his veins, a slow burn that had taken over his entire body.


    “Goodbye, Miss rke,” he murmured quietly, more to himself than to the empty air.


    Women had never been more than a distant afterthought to him, let alone something as intimate as a kiss.


    But this kiss had been different from the one they''d shared before.


    If their previous encounter had been pure instinct, a surrender to baser desires, this one carried the weight of everytent emotion and unspoken power y between them.


    Ken couldn''t begin to untangle the web of Allison''s mind.


    It was like the calm surface of the ocean, hiding a swirl of dangerous currents beneath.


    Whether it was lust or intellect, Allison always seemed to have the upper hand, as if she were ying a game only she understood.


    Thinking about it, Ken let out a quiet, bitterugh.


    "You''re taking me for a fool."


    She had kissed him and then walked away without a second thought, leaving him in the aftermath.


    No matter how long he pondered, he couldn''t unravel the enigma that was Allison.


    The faint scent of gardenias still lingered in the cool air, floating through the parking lot like a ghostly reminder of their intense moment of intimacy.


    As the floral scent caressed his senses, Ken couldn''t help but think of the flower''s meaning: evesting love and promises.