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g Lines

-

presentation arrived fas

s, rehearsing in front of the mirror, and wondering if Xavier woul

filled with executive directors, she felt the

art po

the far end, expression unreadable,

e conference room days ago. But he hadn't neede

led quietl

collection's theme, the environmental sourcing, the urban inspiration.

d, there was a b

a few polite claps from the s

y executed. We'll move f

a bl

was

se. No subtle look th

n, her ches

e misr

ofessionalism looke

-

up her tablet, she received a

vier

ce. 8:30 p.m.

eath c

ation. No subject l

the screen, considering h

typed ba

ders

-

Bella's heels echoed in the marble hallway as she approached the door t

only once be

," came

the door

ing two glasses of whiskey. The city glitte

nd handed h

" he said.

it, but d

am I

he replied, returning to his desk but not sitting. "Your pres

e said that

ut then I wouldn't get to see t

u said you would

m n

what i

loser. "That I haven't forgotten

untouched in her hand.

was quiet. "So

mouth-but not

f her didn't w

t

en, without touching her, he whispered, "I'll wait as long as it takes.

breath

heels clicking down the hall

n't loo

did he sto

-

morning w

in conversations she wasn't even in. But beneath the praise was an undercurrent she cou

there was

ai

by the espresso machine. "You

inch. "Guess I'

I. Which is why I was surprised whe

a fr

closer, her v

f, now the capsule pitch? You're moving up too fast. And men like X

hat what your career's base

urvive in this world by being noble. Sooner or later, you'll realize how dangerou

didn't

f doubt had alre

was g

-

nt door to find a small envelope wai

art racing, and unfo

e only fi

everything

igna

con

ark, final, and sh

the note, her

een her go in

t Cam

someo

on her coffee table an

uld wal

hould

m Xavier Louis and eve

inst

hed for

d out a

omorrow. Somewhere a

dn't s

uld know

right about him