her new boutique, her manicured fingers eagerly sk

proposal had won multiple grants, zero-i

ands that had endorsed her. This was the kind of win she ordinarily would have spent years

is this f

rue that she had worked tirelessly for this, she had poured every

.. this came

conven

itted as she leaned back into

st the desk echoed softly as she tried to

inutes, it fi

was in her

Blac

d as a knowing h

her palm. So It wasn't just he

as Da

d the strings from the shadows, mad

edictabl

nce unreachable dreams, but drea

a favor or a car

~

le of flashing cameras, as usual. Eager reporters and an overwhelming crow

dern of decors, and an exclusive section was res

ensive glasses clinked in the hands of VIP gu

already given the

rter's Re

her about as she handled one interview after another, s

ly the energy in the hall shifted as ev

fore she even looked, she was beginning

no other person but her hu

ents, who loathed public appearances that weren't strictly related to

as she turned, her posture b

g used to how t

red her for what h

her own, they glowed. Confidently, he swaggered straight to where she stood and before she could brace herself

close so that she felt the steady beat of hi

this excessive show of affection without meltin

Ba

alarm as he started to lean in slowly, his lips brushing d

athe, I'm

but she quickly covered up w

ashed even; a few others clapped, got tired, and started cla

what unnerved her, what sent heat rushing to the nape of h

her cheeks to the trembling cadence o

for her. It was becoming re

~

seat on one of the cream couches in the sittin

ing to the privileges, the influence, the too many doors of favor s

e and after giving everything a proper thought, one

nly one benefi

hable. His power was unmatched. Nothing had

much to gain from her success at le

o

amien stood near the grand bar p

ed him, with her ey

lly? And how, again, was

aw a steady breath before

tle time to think she spa

. What do you wan

iately. Instead, he took his time, tilting his

tentative as he

d he finally lower it, setting it

ned his face in her direction, swir

ly asking the

her arms, wa

and walks toward her, closin

s he tilts her chin up, f

ever take back," he murm