, Elena expected th

on of the previous evening was a byproduc

found a single lamp glowing on his desk. Julian was gone, but t

was an altar of organization. Tonight, a heavy crystal paperweight had been moved

doing a strange little ki

better. I checked the Latin. Y

s unmistakable-sharp, authoritative, and hurried. She touched the paper

game. Julian was never there when she arrived,

id spill that would damage the wood, but dry beans scattered in a pattern

a circled paragraph and a note in the margin:

ocolate truffle sitting on to

e desk until it shone like a mirror, and she placed the chocolate in her pocket to

low burn turned

oil paintings that lined the executive corridor. The building was si

sn't alone. He was being trailed by Marcus, the Head of Acquisitions-

t, Julian!" Marcus bellowed. "We need

lena perched on the ladder. His expression shifted insta

id, his voice dropping to th

ena. He looked at her with the same disdain one might give a smudge on a window

. She began to climb down, her movements

man's personal space until the shorter executive had to look up. "Her name is Elena. And she is working. Yo

ou're bein

Julian repeated

Elena, and retreated. The silence that r

ails. Julian walked over, stopping at the base. He looked up at her, and the anger

ot," Julian

whispered, looking down at

laced his hand on the ladder, his thumb brushing against he

he world clearly," he said. "Don't let a man who can

d in his. His palm was warm, his grip encompassing. As she stepped down, the proximity

he faint flecks of gold in his grey eyes. She could see the way his ga

d, his hand tighten

t the fall would be long and hard. But in that moment, with the city lights shimmerin

ting, Mr Vane,"

out a ragged breath, nodding slowly. He didn't

oardroom. "But I'm leaving the door unlock

frantic rhythm against her ribs. She looke

hat would happen if she did. But as she emptied her

rane, made from a discarded memo, si