pte

ittle

g. Maria answered swiftly, her tone professional as she responded, then clipped

he woman rose, her face bloodied and unsettl

s office, sighing deeply before gently pushing

manded, but Ace barely looked up f

he questio

ng me. I deserv

as he fixed her with an amused yet co

rted arguing with my secretary. Th

didn't le

to follow proper procedure?" His voi

to see you-I missed you so mu

nt, and now you expect her to

ce," she mutter

urning to his

oser, reaching out to touch his neck. "Ace?" she called softly, turning his face to her

"I've got work to do. Besides, you didn't tell me

sole heiress of Risam Group. Tall and slim, with runway poise and effor

d eyes, an elegant, straight nose, and full lips that rarely needed to s

one raised in wealth and luxury, yet beneath it all, she desp

photos," she explained, her voice steadier, though Ace's ex

," she paused. "You have every right to be mad I didn't call, but

r affection. I only call when I need something. We both signed a contr

in disbelief. Her eyes watered, but s

been intimate for two years. Fine, I messed up letting my feelings take over, but you're so

terrupted em

oid. You're no

I was," he res

re together, your touch, your presence-i

His blunt tone made the air thick with unspoken tensi

he let a tear trail down her ch

Ace," she whispered fierce

a deliberate click, he shut his laptop. The screen darkened

rating. He didn't approach passionately but moved with

ping her. He reached out to grip her chin, tiltin

void," he whispered, a dark hunger f

yet commanding. It was about hierarchy, not affection. Amari

urned her around, pressing her chest against the cool mahogany of the de

on the desk, eyes fluttering shut as his hands

devoid of warmth but full of intent. "I thought

re hooking into the sides and tugging to reveal her to the cool office air. An exhilarati

e. Her fingers clawed at the desk, white-knuckled. The rhythm was steady, un

as he moved. Not once did he look at her face, but at

missed?" he grow

f cologne, musk, the pounding of bodies, the sense of surrender. She w

back, exposing her neck, cryi

fference shattering in the heat of the moment. Breathing ragged

sting his tie before helping her up. His f

, glancing at his watch as if it were a rout