t through my haze, snappin

my wrist locked in a crushing g

overhead lamps flicked on, forcing m

ocus-cold, sculpted, and unforgiving, his eyes trained on

nch myself free. "Let go of me! What

ed with ice. "Alexandra, you're impressively bold. Slipping in here, put

ooked around, only then realizing this wa

nto the wrong

ead, forcing an awkward laugh. "I-I drank too much

mile. "The moment your scheme fell apart, yo

man standing in front of me was powerful, "You don't honestly think I'd ever be into you, do you? Don't flatter yourself. N

s landed, Daniel's expression hardening into something glacia

to his voice as his eyes

I met his stare head-on. "You're a na

ist free, but his fingers closed with sudde

lt my footing slip, and I cra

ot up and hooked around his neck, c

close, the pos

ouths, and the air between us b

niel felt familiar, as though I had smelled it long ago.

ibrating from Daniel's poc

as he reached for the device with one

ing on the screen, the frost in his

, tender voice drifting through the speaker. "Da

ne were enough to m

ke into the phone with quiet indulgence. "You ba

thinking about how she smelled and how she talke

"You'll feel better in a day or two. I'll

r. Daddy, can you take me to see her?"

dged into Daniel's voi

e; I was afraid his ster

ifted through the receiver. "Fine..

ief pause, he softened his voice. "You'll see her tomorrow mo

heerful. "Don't forget your promise, oka

rom Daniel's eyes, replaced by a cold, me

see my daughter," he said

ore I could stop it. "Mr. Edwards," I said in a cold voice, tilting my head.

heart. Every time I thought about her, it stirred memorie

she couldn't sleep at night. Simply hearing that made

mouth, and I wanted no further entanglement with him-especially

. "I'm running out of patience. Even if you wa

Without another word, I straightened, turned on m

e dining room, Jenifer was a

concern and asked, "Alexandra, where did

e wrong room and run into Daniel, I waved my h

tightening her expression. "I've got bad news. When I we

ped. "Taken a

evably arrogant! She said she's the fiancée of the Jones Group

e upward, a faint chill fl

ah.

possibly n

being careless. Your perfume was way too good-I only meant to try a little. Then, Lilah

the most celebrated perfumers in the country. Alexandra, you've only just come bac

laugh slipped f

to come after me, that would o

much longer she co

Since she dared to snatch our perfume, I'll make her pay for it. As for th

dded with quiet composure,

t's keep this from Mr. Lewis for now. Otherwise,

n easy smil

slept better than expected, sinki

dy on the road, Jenifer driving as the A

officially join the company and expa

d the truth-this was simply th

vies, the project manager of the Apex Group, going o

e industry for about three years thinks she can join the Apex Group so easily? And she's handed a fla

I recognized i

d me for coun

was

the office door

apped in an impeccable designer outfit, her makeup

she demanded, "Mr. Davies, wh

er chin, she continued

ered a polite smile. "Hello. I'm Alexandra Harris.

ndra H

sure cracked. Color drained from her fac

he blurted, "What did yo

ing her lips into a sneer. "Lilah, just look at her. That face alone pro

disdain. "You nearly gave me a heart attack," she scoffed. "It's just disturb

urname become your personal property? And is tearing down other peo

snapped, "You disgusting freak-how dare you sp

ng. "I know exactly what I'm seeing now

ugh to cut. "Alexandra Harris, right? Fine. We'll see how long

ownhill. You'd grab some nobody off the street and hand her Heartstring Moments? If you let her tou

adjusted his posture and answered, "I stand by my decisio

d into her designer bag and produced a crystal-cl

aid, lips curving with smug certain

n accepted the bottle and releas

nce unfurled through the office, cri

stakable appreciation, and before he realized it, he leaned c

ly as he looked at Lil

ed smoothly, lifting her ch

traordinary. I completely underestimated your talent in perfumery

loomed across Lilah's face, the c

ainst my senses before speaking calmly. "Thank you for the generous compliment, M

ant. "W-what did you say? You're

composure cracked, panic flas