like it was a shield. Her heels clicked against the marble as she entered the pristine

executives, walked into boardrooms thick with testosterone and dismissiven

her palms

meeting. One chance to prove her strategy. She d

moothed a hand over her sleek ponytail and exhaled slowly as the numbers ticked upwa

itely, walking in with practiced poise, heels silent on the carpet. She laid her

the air

l, confident and measured. A pre

the doo

s heart

oom like he owned it-which, in

The man she had kissed, touched, dev

his jaw clean-shaven, and that same irritatingly sm

eyes

followed by a slow, knowing smile that made

ilk laced with amusement. "I didn't t

he said crisply, injecting ice into her

aned against the back of a chair, his arms crossing, m

her shoulders and turned to the presentation screen. "

that what we're calli

ce. "This is a professional se

ion shifting to something unreadable, yet

es were sharp, her data airtight. She spoke clearly, confidently, even as Ethan watched her like he wa

Every time he shifted, every time he leaned forward, ever

ded, the room f

her with a curiosity that unnerved her far

ssive. Bold. You've clea

" she repli

r, his gaze more serious now. "You're cl

d. "So... we

nding final pa

hed over h

yes locking on hers, "

d. "What kind

pping low enough that only she could hear

aught. "That nigh

. "If it meant nothing,

m n

u a

teeth. "This i

We'll keep it professional. But just know, Sophia, I don't b

et him see the chaos brewing inside her. "I'll

be wai

e door, but his voi

and S

pa

id. "The way you said my name. Ev

eath h

call me E

ut, pulse pounding, throat tight, heart fl

-

f her car, Sophia sa

ew York, he had to

ne night. A firework-br

niting a fuse she didn

wo

her didn