days that followed their first meeting were a disconcerting mix of abrupt orders, impossible tasks, and a cold indifference that left Isla on edge. Working with him-or rather fo

were clear but unforgiving. Each document required careful review, and some sections required specific answers to com

umped slightly, swiveling in her seat to find Damian

to hide her discomfort. "I'm just trying to

ement in his eyes. "You should unders

be for someone like you, who has been immersed in this worl

her. Isla felt his presence like an oppressive heat. He picked up one of the documents a

lause," he said, pointi

tic to me. It imposes exorbitant penalties for non-co

u're starting to think like a businesswoman. But you haven't seen the other side. These penalties are there

etrayed her frustration. He never missed an opportunity to put her down,

r computer. A confidential file, one she had never seen before, had just been added to the comp

s with shady pasts. It all seemed... suspicious. Too suspicious. Isla felt a lump form in her stomach. Was thi

Should she really confront such a formidable man about such a sensitive subject? She simply saved t

e an effort to prepare herself, choosing a professional outfit that made her look more confident than she actually felt. When they arrived at the restaura

m smile and enthusiastic handshake were a stark contrast to Damian's aloof, calculat

, his gaze lingering on her a little too

smile. "And I've heard

ting short any attempt at levity. "We're here to discus

ted by innuendos that sometimes escaped Isla. But what she clearly understood was that the two men did not like each other. Lu

g slightly toward her. "Business is a dangerou

efully, catching Isla's attention. "If you

ng that your protege deserves to know what she's getting into. A

answer, Damian spoke in an icy voice. "Isla knows ex

ter of a power game that she didn't yet understand all the rules of. But one

e table in front of her. Should she really dig deeper into thes

t, but part of her was drawn to him, to his confidence, to t

hrough on her phone. It was an unknown number. The tex

you're getting yourse

ons, and secrets, was far more dangerous than she had imagined. And she had no id