for two weeks, but she had already produced a

o stand out. But standing out was easy when

urately predicted Alexander Wolfe's requests, handling his schedule, travel, contract

control tower. Emails are sorted, phone calls are filtered, and schedules are aligne

d that perfection do

anged on

all to Monday?" Alexander's voi

preparations begin on Friday, and you have asked no interruptions." Hen

, towering, arms crossed. His

t your decis

d calm. "I thought you hired me to make j

ixed on he

or analysts waited near the copier, pretending not to hear. An e

iss Carter," he replied caut

p her cheekbones. I understand,

back into his off

ar. A sharp sting of shame burst in her chest,

indig

he right choice.

ng on his schedule. While studying the board meeting doc

hesi

oint it out

job. And since even Alexan

ary: "Figures on line 4B do not match the l

e was still there-but with a new

pture. A

nk you."

lt it

sh

as bustling with new energy

murmurs in

verly agg

like she ow

quently wit

drifted like poisoned bubbles. Non

everyone hid

ator, talked in a smooth tone. Claire, blonde, elegant, and surgically st

ovely smile. Goo

ought you should know-Alexander like his coffee with exactl

But I have been usin

ed, her grin

rned to h

ike her. That mu

y little intern" in the elevator, had not spoken to

her as

not understand h

eloped into a strange dance of con

livery capability," he said one day after she called a plan too ambi

not based on current supply chain bottleneck

tightened, but

raid to disagre

en I am

ng p

rst time. It was min

st to flutter in an unexpe

k to her job

t interested in fa

ess of

were m

. His eyes lingered as she laughed unexpectedly.

he dr

ould

occurred on a F

aperwork when a voice

Emma C

strategist and self-proclaimed "golden boy."

ve Slide 12 from

ers were inflated, Mr. Wolfe

ed. "That slide refl

But that was

n back to her. "You think you can just stro

ing, I verified

remain in

react, Alexande

occurri

ly composed. "It was o

stance ove

nd herself, but Ale

there is an issue with the numbe

ered. "Right

n the hallway

fingers trembling. She a

did not

closer. He dro

the rig

why does it feel like

ot like bein

"Even if th

if they ar

his frigid steel

air between t

arting to

an em

ere is some

stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows,

roud. She would prove

ortable, The attention.

her boss. He had become a mystery,

gnited within he

ation,Not

er,Something

as footstep

behind her, hand

day,"

ed. "Lon

standing by her, both of them

d yourself

nk

ence co

quired, "Do you l

. "Yeah. "Regard

d was shockingly warm. "

pecte

ce her and trul

e anybody I ha

. "Because I s

re making me q

t her d

, they just

tit

no power

e in the quiet

ander str

you Monday,

at, the mom

Emma

under the ice

something