0

Shouldn

-

n them. The cool air in his office suddenly felt thick, too

epeated, his voice low-measured, but with an

erve in her body told her to run. Her fingers clenched the sample

ou brought me here because you thought this was going to be some kind of... continuatio

ething in his eyes softened. He stepped ba

g you here for

elieve him.

d my application lik

have,"

narrowed. "Bu

I wanted to see you ag

flin

n't know a

hind her ribs. "So you staged an interview?

a junior creative for the textiles division a week before the gal

g for a lie, but found none

ld be flattered or insulted,"

en a smile if it wasn't so restrained.

id. "And I'm a

n ima

nce. The kind that usually

held out the file. "These a

shing hers. The contact sent a flicker of warmth

thout really reading them,

ore than you realize. Clara sa

esign," Bella snapped, sharper than

nding. But I saw the way you carried y

I, then? Some underdog with fire in

person who's made me feel some

fr

harder than th

," she said, her voice

Not now. Not ever, if you don't want it. But I won't lie to you-I remember

ked away, unsure what to do with

y boss,"

es

n't happ

ue. He simply nod

before she could reach th

her hand o

r work, not because of me. But if, at any point, you want

dn't r

t tur

twisted-an ache that felt f

-

o work, ignoring the butterflies that fluttered every time she spotted X

n't corner her. Didn't use his power to bend her toward

that made eve

ldn't stop thin

his lips felt against her collarbone. She would sip her morning coffee a

vity of that night. He had touched her like she mattered. Spoken to

ine... what did that mean fo

uccess. To stand on her

working under the man

he was dangerous-that power like his always came with

ll want

-

eek, Clara called B

ly. "You work hard. You're quick on

la said, surpris

position beyond the tria

ded slowl

ely with the executive team next week. Expect mo

stomach

er s

me near

r in hand, her mind already spinning with what it

lection staring back at her in the polished chrome

lready in