a different w

teps, the ringing phones, t

beyond the glass walls - a

t. Wa

cked her wat

e she wa

amian wasn'

med for their "strategy sessions," her heels muffled by

oals. De

uld survive the next twelve months without t

eaked open

to look up to

moment Damian Wolf

l," he said, vo

she countered, re

uldn't notice how he always smel

into the chair across from her, s

on her notes. "Let'

ound so

ooked up - and reg

k jeans and a black button-down, sleeves rolled to

angerous.

ow her stom

fessionally," she said, tapp

iday night rules. Did

ly, shoving a folder ac

m proposing for acquisitions," she

n't take t

d, elbows on the table, g

hate me so

guard, slicing through the r

you," she said

- slow a

ia

ege. Entitlement. People like you who think they can coast on charm and

long moment, something un

now me," he

know me," she

etween them vibrated with some

cky, infuriating smile that made her

ce all velvet and challenge.

d her eyes. "I'm

iday night, after we finish work, we ask each ot

"Why the hell woul

t she caught the faintest whiff of his cologne, "wh

mmered again

abruptly her chair scraped a

her tension, eyes glitte

?" he m

ing tilt of his mouth, at the way his vo

out. "One questi

smile was

and lethal, as if he hadn't just li

propping his chin on one h

rms tightly across her

ed to a low, da

st thought you've

orld

t, heat flushing up her

e, couldn't think - trapped in

mian k

fel

lder shut and shov

she said tightly, str

her down the hallway - ric

the night, she knew she'd

ng a game she

e was already t