ught no peace-only tensio

nd. It wasn't fancy, but it was neat, professional-perfect for a woman trying to blend in. She tied her hai

second day at

thing the same air

sed her eyes. You can do this. Her pulse

t for c

or he

for

h, his stubborn little chin that mirrored his father's. Adrian had no idea he e

erself she wouldn'

the truth about w

was sure he de

sted espresso drifted through the air. She passed other employees with nods and half-smiles, he

the moment his voice

, in my of

s breat

oward his door, every step a si

lass and steel, with a view that made the city look like a miniature pain

g wrong, sir

were colder than yesterda

your rea

omach

use

terday with a name that rang every alarm in my gut. Your face-it's different. Your voice

pulse t

nt, she sa

at's the name on my birth c

ation crossed his f

chin. "And yo

the room, the next just inches

she answer

rri

N

ild

eath h

she

ing for something. Recog

one I once knew," he s

's not uncommon. People oft

was si

as smoke hun

r job is to organize these reports by Friday. You'll be assi

, s

rned t

at the door. "If I find out you're hidin

didn't

losing the door s

r lap. That was too close. She had underestimated him. Adrian

n't just s

gerous-esp

s far more fragile

f his penthouse suite, fingers wrapped around a tu

stop thinkin

ia G

her for years. Investigators. Lawyers. Even friends in the me

Her eyes... the way she flinched when he stepped too clos

impos

le

e and dialed a number

n one of my employees," he said the moment the line

l and leaned aga

eared... then why h

as she

ays p

silent. Dist

self behind. But each day, it grew harder. Adrian kept watching her

than anyone. And now, she wa

hate

n't risk the

m's safety d

t, she ca

voice a

she whispered, h

om

Did you have

a said I drew the

ed. "Of cou

you comi

r throat. "Soon. I promise.

ove you,

you more

the phone to her chest.

didn't want to be one? What if he tried

reason: to find the documents proving Adrian's betrayal. Th

y mor

investiga

u need to

p tightened

al

rds before 2020 are sealed. And her social traces start just five yea

s heart

er previous appearance. Anythi

pa

appeared on

ood ra

ia H

il

Softer.

deniab

idden

n who di

man wh

ing outside his door... pr

ly, a storm buil

came

ese years, s

ught he wou

nto his office immed

wat

ed her e

r behind her ear when she was nervous. The way she bit her li

was

wi

way with his heart-and

e had the

she would answe

ed, Adrian walked out of his office and

just finishing the p

tively calm. "Come wit

hesi

n s

oke. The silence between them was loud with tension. The doors opened to th

littered b

as just them. The past

," he said at last,

ia f

ow, A

ace p

cked, just slightly.

ted, but not

ear without a word? Why p

trembled. "Yo

you talk

rything. Love. Trust. A future. But then you chose your emp

to protect you

broke. "You buried our marriage. You let your family

le

. Unfor

e whispered. "And

ts clenched.

no ch

ays had

houlders shaking. "Not when

ed into him lik

s heart

ha

im now, eyes bu

ing your chi