Chapter 191: If this was a movie, they’d have kissed by now.

Dominic Hale was not an impulsive man.

He never had been.

He made calculated decisions, weighed the risks, anticipated every possible outcome before making a move.

But Elena Steel?

She had always been the one thing he couldn’t predict.

And standing here, in his office, her sharp gray eyes locked onto his like she was daring him to break first, he felt that familiar fire burning between them.

The one they had both spent years pretending didn’t exist.

Or worse—pretending didn’t matter.

Elena exhaled slowly, arms crossed, waiting.

For him to break.

For him to do something.

For him to stop acting like the past had never happened.

But Dominic wasn’t giving her that.

He just stood there, steady, unreadable, the way he always had.

Finally, she shook her head.

"You really think you can just ignore this?" she asked.

Dominic’s jaw tightened.

"I think it doesn’t matter anymore."

Elena let out a dry laugh.

"Right. Because you’re so good at letting things go."

Dominic exhaled sharply, stepping closer—too close, close enough that Elena had to tilt her head to keep looking at him.

"I let you go, didn’t I?" he said, voice low.

Elena stilled.

And for a moment—**just a fraction of a second—**her expression flickered.

Dominic caught it.

He knew that look.

The same one she used to give him before she left.

Before everything fell apart.

Before she became a ghost in his past.

Elena inhaled, steadying herself.

"Maybe that’s why you’re still so pissed off," she murmured.

Dominic didn’t respond.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

And that?

That was the worst part.

Outside the office, Damon, Seraphina, Liam, Zayn, and James were still very much standing there.

Eavesdropping.

Because, honestly?

This was too good to miss.

Liam let out a low whistle. "That’s some serious tension in there."

Zayn smirked. "Yeah. If this was a movie, they’d have kissed by now."

Damon arched a brow. "You really think Dominic is the kind of guy to make the first move?"

James shook his head. "Nah. Elena’s the wildcard."

Seraphina sighed, rubbing her temple. "You do realize we’re acting like a bunch of high schoolers, right?"

Liam grinned. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

Damon chuckled. "You love it."

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "I tolerate it."

Elena exhaled, bracing herself.

This wasn’t going anywhere.

Dominic was too damn stubborn.

So she did what she did best—she called his bluff.

"Alright, fine," she said, stepping back, masking whatever emotion had flickered through her before.

Dominic narrowed his eyes.

"Fine?"

Elena nodded, smoothing out the sleeves of her blazer.

"This is strictly professional," she said. "Nothing more."

Dominic’s jaw ticked.

"Good."

Elena smirked. "Good."

But neither of them moved.

Neither of them turned away.

Neither of them walked out that door.

Because no matter how much they pretended—this wasn’t over.

Not even close.

When Elena finally left Dominic’s office, she did so with perfect control, her expression carefully neutral.

She did not acknowledge the group of idiots still lingering in the hallway.

She did not break her stride.

But as she passed, James caught the flicker of something in her eyes.

And he knew.

This wasn’t the end of that story.

Not by a long shot.

Liam, watching her go, let out a low whistle.

"Damn," he muttered. "I don’t know what just happened, but that was intense."

Zayn smirked. "Five bucks says they end up killing each other."

Seraphina exhaled. "You’re all impossible."

Damon, ever the strategist, just chuckled.

"No," he murmured, watching Dominic from the doorway.

"They’re just getting started."