house suite chimed, a po

, walked to the door. Water dripped from his dark hair onto h

senger, a young kid with wide eyes, stammered something

g fingers brushing the

wed in mild curiosity. He didn't h

it open, his mind was already on the day ahead. The final papers for the Star Media Group acquisiti

fell out of the envelope, scat

fro

per. A memo slip. He picked it up. The handwrit

ake. This is for your

words once

each his eyes. His eyes, the color of a stormy sea, turned to i

re

d forefinger. The sheer, unadulterated audacity of it was almost impressive.

k hair on his pillows. The faint scent of jasmine and fear. The way s

a faint, lingering scent, and a sense of disappointment so sharp it surprised hi

n. And now, sh

into a drawer, the gesture dismissive, contemptuous

ty minutes. I'm heading to

before she

suit that hugged his powerful frame. As he fastened his cufflinks, he caught a glimpse of his back in t

den

hrough the Star Media Group's personnel files

Manager. Department: Special Pr

in plain sight. In his newly acquired compa

rgy. The outgoing CEO and a line of senior executives were waiting in the l

eeping over them, dismissing them. He

e sprawling corner office that was now

approval systems," he told the flustered head o

ted to see the company's inner workings

is eyes scanning the list of pen

r: Pierc

ayroll

: $5,0

ersonal E

Approved. Pending

. The burst pipe. The cash up front. The five thousand dollars. His five thousand dollars, borrow

iful, infuriatin

ould approve it. Let her think she'd gotten

s no rea

pped out a few

Status:

cursor to the

st report to the CEO's office to

system confirmed the

ver his chest, a predator settling

us on a budget projection. Her mind was a chaotic mess. The news

corner of her screen. A system email

against her ribs. S

yroll advance has bee

eyes scanning for the reason. must report

intense it made her dizzy. This couldn't

zed. A text f

Need to give you

line. An excu

quick repl

d up, murmuring a vague excuse

glanced at his watch. Ten minu

i

in won't come

tle walk around the office would be good. A c

ct his disobedient li

teps silent on the thick carpet, his e

-