0

on the 2

-

ive executive wing of LV Groups. The 20th floor wasn't just high-it felt like a whole other world. Where

ed in polished glass and gold accents-were intimidating without even tr

a di

t

ld?" came a

yed assistant, approaching her with a poli

Room for the quarterly rollout preview," Miriam sai

hought I'd be repor

s wants you there," Mi

their conversation in his office. Not a message. Not a glance. And yet she had

d her by his

o

was here for the job. The wo

erence room overlooking the Seine. The table was already half-full-department heads, br

ad of the tab

and unread

bsently with a pen, his body language relaxed but

he fe

quiet woman named Anya from Digital Branding. No one seemed surprised by her presence. That somehow made it worse. Like sh

e first half hour, Bella forc

ration Bella had helped research during her trial week. When Clara mentioned her by name-"Bella Bluefield drafted

eyes fou

he

t the a

something in his gaze-quiet approval, may

looked

-

ks about the upcoming merger with a luxury Italian label. People filtered ou

. She was almost to the door whe

uefield.

rned s

w, his back to the river

d, some indifferent-as they filed out, leavi

pounding, closing the door b

her the w

essive today,"

e replied, keeping

han people who've be

trying to compliment me,

uine sound. "You're sti

," she said. "Th

assed over his face. "Do

then stepped toward the ta

tion," she said honestly

t here

e experience. I told you befor

id no

ward her, slow

his is a gam

tting what you want," she

think I w

le

tered for a se

ed just in f

ork. Your perspective. Your fire. I've never

dn't a

ight

arp, too precise. Like he was carving someth

of it?" she

oice like silk, "is what I f

t pounded li

y things like tha

kno

etween them before she drowned in

said. "You can walk out of this room and never speak

let again, her finger

n't st

t cha

reached the door, he

hat night. You were ne

pa

walke

-

ls piling up in her inbox. She answered a few, for

Groups thinking she coul

art wouldn'

she wasn'

t her like she was the only th

orst

r wanted t