Inte

ed against your lungs. Nancy adjusted her blazer again, her palms damp despite the icy air conditioning. She'd rehearsed her lines. She'd resea

ow," the assistant at th

e wasn't prepared for how massive the office was - nor how distan

said witho

. No "hello,"

he leather chair that somehow felt like a t

readable, pinned her to her seat. Handsome? Absolutely. But there was a chill in his man

ys you're meticulous. I've had three assistants in th

let her nerves show. "I am.

ly. "Miss Nancy... this isn't

ing t

ot th

m. But by the end of that ten-minute conversation, Cole had st

t week w

sary, and he preferred his coffee hot at precisely 8:45 a.m. - no sugar, two drops o

chedules before he could even request them. She stayed late, sometimes sleeping in the o

e more the whispers sta

won't l

Pas for b

oesn't do parties, doesn't e

he wasn't here for gossip.

e paperwork near the staff lounge,

s his sister. The one wh

hought she w

hen Cole lets her. They're clos

fingers tightene

a... hi

g the interview, how she'd smiled when she mentioned "you're

Later – Mi

onths had chan

how to decode his moods, how to walk the tightrope between efficiency and invisibility. They still weren't friends

came th

hasha's voice, fran

nd I don't know his phone code to call his driver. I wa

ent within twenty minutes. Cole was sprawled across her

"He had one argument with the board and just...

trying to hoist him up. "Help

r water and ginger tea, leaving Nancy behind. As she t

fr

tain. "Don't leave... I always feel

d. "You're d

wasn'

's ever stayed. Everyone

at up, eyes on her face like she

oice thick with longing. "You challe

uld speak - his l

eat. It should have felt wrong, but it didn't. It felt like every mom

the bed, a tangle

ons. When she woke beside him hours later, he was asleep agai

esent – Th

oorframe of the office, holding a b

can't go to his birthday pa

not coming. Do you know how muc

r arms. "He hasn't said

how to deal with what happened.

ed to keep thin

softened. "Please. Just show up. Smile. You don'

Nancy sighed. "Fine.

med. "Perfec

Birthday

the background as suited men and elegant women mingled with glasses of w

rivate, personal - for close associates

r curves with effortless grace, dipped low enough at the back to feel r

even want

er what happene

nned th

alking toward the center table where Cole sat, dressed in all black - sharp su

look up.

n. She didn't know what terrified he

?" a serve

ok the

said behind her - sm

rned s

s eyes... God, his eyes were dragging over her like a slow burn. He was tense

," he fin

e," she replie

them - full of the night

mitted, voice lower now. "After

on her glass. "You neve

beat of

don't regret what happened, Nancy. But I didn't

d. "You we

e," he said simply

away, heart thudding

, stepping clo

ng smile. "Alright, you two. Let's not kill the mood. Nancy, come mee

sha, her body still

nce, every smile, every moment of eye contact s

After t

ur pa

eryone, his voice cool, controlled - only flickering when he b

rn he looked at he

ace. The air was cool, brushing her skin like silk. She

hings that scare you?" ca

osed h

be out here,"

t I

ds in his pockets. "I keep

't," s

" he m

o face him. "I

n qu

hit like

she br

ly thing stopping you from let

can

y n

sition. I fought for my place. And I won

ng her space. "You th

I

"Because I think about it. Every night. The way you lo

breath

o this,"

he whispered, "and tell m

e was answ

en desire and fear, until Nathasha

on fir

hand lingering against Nancy

ood there,