her sanctuary, felt like a pressure cooker. The ci

ckwood trus

ce made it volatile. He'd handed her the Halcyon merger like a loaded weap

ads, and market value projections. It was the most invigorated she'd felt in months-and the

he way he'd said, "Even if I can

't want

ance, Power, an

renaline as she stepped into the elevator, table

even a glance, though she felt his

high-level strategy huddles she had set up early, lining t

m., the do

't recognize- likely Halcyon's liaison. They nodded politely, and Grayson, prof

all by

the room dropped a few degrees. No trace of l

with poise, offering projected growth figures and a five-year reintegration plan so compelling tha

tside, she allowed herself one deep breath and then the door opened again, as Grayson stepped out, closing it behind him

eptional," he

ed crisply. "Was th

difference between being good at your job and being

est ti

eed praise

," he countered.

ped her.

are. They'll push harder. Expect more. And if you

raid of har

ng. Because if you want it, it can be taken." His words w

he could see

here, Grayson?

that room another minute and not remembe

punched fro

"You said this w

lie

d between them,

But I'll leave it all buried if you want me to. Just

embled slight

ock this thing in a vault, a

terrified

dn't w

st you," she

ood. Because trust gets p

er word, he turned

ing against the inside of her

er-hours crept in, Ava stayed behind as she needed the quiet. The distanc

sal skeleton so airtight it could've flown to Mars. And around 8 p.m

eat lines-blurring and bending things that shou

is tie loosened, hair tousled like he'd been pulling at itand

a man breakin

't be here

she replied. "

osing the distance between them in three slo

ted, but no s

walk away," he sa

gerous," sh

a single finger down

king, without apolog

perate. This time, it was a control meeting on fire. A cl

her jaw as she clutched his shirt, not to pull h

hey were both breathin

ht," she whispered, though

ou're willing to give

ended, not just by hea

ot

l or lust, it was a line neith

the fire was onl