– Executive Boar

straight, heels clicking with quiet precision. She wore all black-sleek, tailored, de

led that morning, voice clipped, telling her to "please be on time" as if

tered the

One stunningly sh

the head of the table

ed the second

hed, just slightly.

she sai

curved. "Hello

the thrill i

nsel-gestured toward the seat beside Damien.

idn't

nd. What

ntract signed last year during preliminary merger talks-by your father, rest h

harpened. "

liding a folder tow

le

ked. "Marri

M

ped toward hi

"Didn't think you'd appreciate a phone call. I

t a contract that literally puts my freedom on pap

y. "You're a woman your father tried to protect

protecting,"

of si

forced. It was symbolic. But when news of Damien's... PR iss

ct and sacrifice the woman like a lamb'?" S

locked to hers. "You're angr

ant to hea

d, low and steady. "This d

ent s

e the company, save face. Then we dissolve it. You walk away

you get?" she

ame without

tilted fo

she whispered, more t

s. You get to walk into every Hartley boardroom in the futur

d at him, ch

knight in shinin

use I don't wear armor. Just g

arply, headin

about it," s

" he called after

__

Next

ley & Alarin Merger

the contract

rembling, but not from fear. From the kind of anger that

d finally. "I

unbothered. His tie hung loose around his neck, j

len

my head down, let my father control everything-even when he gave my ideas to my brothers, even when he told me I was 'too emotiona

on didn't change.

e. My face. My future. You're asking me to shackle m

ff the door and

," he said slow

dare romanticize this. This isn

"This is strategy. You think I'm thrilled a

ted. His presence filled the

what you think

lly sees you. I know your worth. I know what you've built for yourself despite your

r choice to mak

g sil

nd for a second-just a

ied your name to mine before you even knew it. The board already

e ground had vanish

ispered. "Another man m

s jaw c

but never falling. "I hate you for us

d through the ro

didn't

said quietly. "But I won't let

rs to protec

be not. But you're m

past him-furious, h

k, unreadable, yet already deciding he

___

e – Hartley To

ng open with

rom the paperwork she w

ptions, Grace," sh

," came a crisp

head sn

dark blue suit. Poised. Efficient. With the same polish

Mr. Alarin's exe

s eyes

yed. "Mr. Alarin requested I bring over the preliminary event calendar for your

nt" hit Selen

Damien?" she a

tley. I've worked with Mr. Alarin for six years. I handle

kmail, too?" Selene int

blinked. "

, each step deliberate. Her heels clicked l

ist of obligations I never agreed to, tied to a man I n

t followin

and me-always following, always fetching, always running around doing the

fted, clearly

amien Alarin if he ever wants me to do anything for him-show up, smile, breathe next to him-he can

hardened. "That

me a leash with velvet trim and calling it partnersh

without another word, she t

a little too h

re, chest heavin

d at Cassandr

dled like property. Done l

e was going to have to see that h

____

Office

lamp glow and cold silence. Blueprints, invoices, and design mock-ups littered Selene's d

ly on her keyboard. One file, then the next, then another. H

't eaten

omach

o

ully

ping slightly-but only for a second. S

ag

of her office door unlocki

ad jer

larin wa

rolled up as though he hadn't been able to resist the urge to roll them himself. In o

idn't

er di

cing the takeout on the edge of he

n't loo

woul

on her screen. The mouse t

like he had every right

ll didn

skipped dinner," he adde

le

r computer and the thunde

fin

the air. "You really thin

But I thought hunger

ad sna

ked at

yal, exhaustion, the heartbreak of a woman consta

teeth. "You walked in here with food

lmly. "I came because I signed something. You signed so

in this. I

regret, she couldn't tell. But

warred with

me, more insistent-and she could practically

" she s

't say

Steam curled from the open

it open, and dug in without cer

oss from her, watching her like she was the mos

me that this marriage is necessary. You want to tell me to calm down

dded

med the

er. Always taking care of everyone else's mess. But this? This is where I draw the line. Because apparently,

it was you,"

"And that's suppose

half-eaten food

ng into my office, throwing contracts at me like I'm some pawn.

still burning with fire,

n sto

len

ng enough for him to see the f

," she said flatly, a