rabe

a of shocked faces. Dora, my assistant, stood off to the s

oothly, ignoring the blatant disbelief in the room as I sauntered to a seat

k, Mirabe

corner of my

ha

Eyes locked on me like I was a ghost.

o

name tag read Richard-spoke up. "Mirabella... I

the presentation. I began scrolling through i

said, my voice blank as I handed the t

e room thickened-

hut, but he seemed completely disconnec

I asked, sweeping my

gave a curt nod. "In

arter..." His words were forced. "You're required to be at

refusing to meet his barely veiled

tcome of this meeting. However, bringing up irrelevan

his frustration. I caught the mutter und

new

ed, uncrossing my legs and standi

n the document before him, his cheeks beginni

ly, my voice low but sharp. "Trust me, if I wanted t

efficient, tapped her tab, patien

rhythmically against the tab

careful. "I apologize for my teammate's at

looked-and saw the way

w, with the stubble he was clearly trying to gr

ath, just loud enough for him to hear. "You can

turned to

red challenge my authority again. When Dora wrapped up, I stood, watching as

appro

ly, a genuine smile brea

. "I'll meet yo

, she exit

that... the

here staring at m

ok closing the space between us. I should've shut him down ri

red when he was ju

him, a cold frown tight

thing to hear him call me that. But

r," I reminded h

ough his hair, clearly thrown off. "How

ollow smile curled my lips. "Guess I couldn't let my degrees

g to find a version of me he remembered. Then he step

on

n through the air,

r to say it. But Theo's face flashed in my

n Rob

is full name. There was a flick

power shift. The be

ign the merger wi

"I thought you alrea

. "No. There's one more co

rowed deeper

letting it sit

take a test

d into concern. "Tes

moment I'd wait

etermines whethe