Hearts Under Contact

loor gleaming beneath her heels. The towering glass walls reflected the bustling energ

eeting was the culmination of months of relentless effort, late nights, and more coffee than any one person

er dress fit perfectly, her hair was pulled into a sleek bun, and her makeup was flawless. She looked e

ded herself. No one knows

o tightly. By the time it reached the 50th floor, she had forced he

with a practiced smile. "Ms

tunning view of the city skyline, while minimalist décor kept the focus on the massive table in t

m R

hotos in business magazines hadn't done him justice. His tailored charcoal suit fit him perfectly, but it wasn'

greet her. His handshake was firm,

der," she replied,

breathing. The weight of his gaze never left her, and it felt a

e strategies and proven results. She knew her material inside and out, but Liam's expression gave nothi

response. The silence stretched, and for the first ti

aid at last, his vo

t was praise or merely a st

rprises isn't like the companies you've worked with before. We're not just trying to stay competitive-we're about to launch a ventu

ue respect, Mr. Ryder, if I weren't ex

ressing a smile, but his eyes

erence room burst open. A man in a tailored suit strode in, whisp

uptly. His gaze lingered on Lexi for a fraction

the massive windows, staring out at the city below. The stakes of this deal loomed larger than e

ing again. She turned too quickly, colliding w

said. Strong hands grippe

s tall, impeccably dressed, with sharp blue eye

er," he said, releasing h

one of Ryder Enterprises' key investors and, according to ev

you, Mr. Bennett," she sa

ive you some free advice, Ms. Thompson: don't tie yourself too tight

ned again, and Liam returned, his shar

d coldly. "What ar

ett said smoothly. "Don't worry-I w

out, leaving a heav

t," he said, his voice clipped. "And don't listen to anything h

kind of battlefield she had just walked into, but on

d. He glanced at the screen, his expression u

ain. "Our meeting will have to conti

d, but before she could, he was

prepared her for this-the enigmatic man, the unspoken power struggles, or the faint but unmis

have I gotte