become a jumbled mess of numbers and phrases that made no sense. Her thoughts raced. James had assigned her the

had tracked her, an unseen presence hovering over every choice she made. He hadn'

r of the deadline. She had only hours to correct everything. Trying to concentrate, she ma

consequences were significant. Should she fail, her whole future

ay weakness. Focus, she told herself. Her heart racing, she retyped the numbers. The last paper

the entrance when she looked up; his large body blocked hal

ugh the atmosphere was charge

hia gulped. Mr. David

. You had best be. Your f

in whether the approaching quiet that followed

igger. She had to complete. She

like a countdown to catastrophe and the pressure had reached a fever pitch. But suddenly, James,

his body. With him so near, she could not breathe correctly. His presence was too strong, too dominant, almost like a force of nature. Refu

correctly. He spoke in

ry beat resonated in her ears, her heart racing in her ch

not knowing whether she w

ologne flooding over her. Though his fingertips swept gently over her

t wrong," he reiterate

rry, fear, perhaps even something darker. But his migh

just above a whisper said, "Do bette

ffocating any vestige of reason. Her heart raced and, for the fi

ere was no error now. Though it was a precarious triumph, it was nevertheless a victory. The burden was coming off he

it on time given the clock was running down. Perhaps this wouldn't be the catastrophe

stress, she reclined on her c

teps behind her. A chill rushed down her back.

me

g immediately behind her, his gaze as keen as ever. She was unable to read him. His face stayed a blank slate of

emarked, his voice harsher than ever.

liced deep. She was not yet free. Jam

ooked up to find the sun had set, the glass walls of the building now reflecting the city lights outside, she had not even known how much time had gone. S

ct had to be perfect; the never-ending need to be better, quicker, stronger was exhausting. She had little s

one made her jump.

ning. A prominent o

to suppress the overpowering feeling of dread that swept over her. How much more coul

idson Enterprises was her ticket; without James, there was no future. Ty

will be

She was unprepared. Not in the least. She had no time to ling

eeply. The night was only starting, an

her as James's actual goals. Apart from the need to perform, she had no idea what to expect. James had always been clea

lady she was turning into. James had a way of bringing out a version of herself she didn't know. Every act

r talk as she reached for th

at the brink of this new, unknown task, she wasn't so sure. Could she really

James, her phone buzzed once

me this evening, so

r of the reality she could not flee. James was more than her employer.

then put her phone in her bag. Doubts were not on

nt was about survival, not only her work. Entering that realm left her unsure of what would follow, but she

ercing stare in the lobby. His presence served as a reminder of what was at risk. The uns

ng. Would she be successful? Could she endure this challenge? The night