here the lobby was still quiet from the early hour. Her heels clicked softly against

a glitch. A lapse. A much-needed rebel

is kiss still lingered, the bruised ache behind her ribs where his

was a night couldn't define her. The promotion was gone, but her ambition wasn't. She ha

iliar hum of early morning meetings and bitter coffee. She passed her desk without pausing, heading st

her a raised brow that said spill everything later, a

xecutives milled about with tablets and espresso shots. Ava slipped into her usual seat-two down

en...

lled at her spine days before. Only this time, it came not fro

terim CEO

instantly as time didn't

and straightened spines, was the man from the penthouse. The man whose

pped like an elev

unshakable gaze. Only now, it was colder and

idn't reco

voice like smooth gravel.

lungs

ckw

CE

bo

, faceless, only now he had a name t

board initiates its long-term leadership strategy," he continued. "Some rest

table, but Ava didn't he

st the polished oak surface. His eyes swept the room and, for the briefest second, pause

emain neutral as her back was strai

cruel joke? Or had she truly been just another woma

, market analysis, and brand revamps got issued. She answered one que

n? He neve

If anything, he looked more dangerous in daylight, less intimat

was his

... he w

picion, but too fast to be casual, and finally, she made it to

hand touch

rough. "You okay? You look

her voice thin. "J

further, a deeper voice

Mon

o see Grayson standing a few fee

you in my office," he sai

ery way, Ava swallowed hard a

em, feeling the tension, she was p

llowed him down the corridor, her heart a live wire as every step tow

ome in, and she stepped inside at once and the mom

d, as neither

softly, "You left wi

hit her li

ou didn't even

said, moving closer. "I

. "This is in

e agreed

ed between them

her arms. "S

inching. "Now, we pretend it never ha

t. "What's that

s with pleasure," he said quietly. "But I'm als

't reply, because part of her wanted to

ck, creating a distanc

smissed, M

ed on her heel and walked ou

ew one thing with terrifying certainty: