AS'

ut through it. When the car pulled up, I stepped out first, my stride sharp, deliberate. Inside, the marble

ore the people as if she had earned their respect. And

e of a velvet chair, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looke

e back of her chair, leaning down jus

, edged with steel. "To parade yourself before people w

eting mine without a flicker

as to meet the people who are a

struck like

my hand tightening on the chair. "Respect isn't inherited, Elena. It

tween us so fast my hand slipped from the

left it to me. You may not like it, but y

een us, heavy and sharp. Her eyes bur

in years, I realized som

thing bigger. I hadn't expected her to rise up and face me head-on, n

id firmly, her eyes never leaving

escaped me.

back. Another step, and another, until her back brushed ag

e swallowed, but she did

hy does he always have to get under my skin

bove her shoulder, leaning in close enoug

ce was low, each word deliberate. "Those people

und came. The silence between us pressed h

ng moment, neit

she stammered, though the faint

f a smirk, my eyes narrowing as

oice firmed. "I will earn their respect, one way or

sed to the bookshelf, my

rget, it's mine too. Uncle Frederick made sure of that. And if you thi

f, brushing past me with a def

h to throw the final blow over her shoulder

rd her room, leaving me standing in the silence of the library

sure if I was losing control... or if c

s faded, but her words re

the shelf where she'd been cornered. My jaw ti

me in the eye. D

. They shifted, faltered, broke under the weight of my silence. B

slowly across the room. The idea was laughable. The townspeople weren't easy to win over.

d y

emory of her fire still burned in my mind, stirring something I hadn't

ought away. She wasn't here to impre

island. My pe

ned if I let he

NA'S

though I needed the wood to hold me upright. My chest rose and

with authority, every step shrinking the space until I had n

my ground. I'd told hi

e I dropped heavily onto the mattress. My hands were trembling, th

.. he was magnetic. The sharp line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes, the way h

ing. "Get a grip, Elena. He's arroga

yed in my mind, only this time my thoughts strayed dangerously cl

. He wasn't the point. The point was me. This isl

aring at the ceiling, I couldn't sto

er, I would earn

imidate me out of it, then he was about

thoughts, snapping me out of the

's voice carried

," I said

cker of guilt in her eyes. "I wanted to apologize... for what happe

y about it. I'll earn their

some news that might cheer you up. Your request fo

up. "Seriously?

is quickly, but I suppose being the new head

me. "Good. At least I'll have something to do i

d. "You don't like the

ng productive, something that feels like mine,

ell, it's no easy place. They're powerful, and their CEO is known for being

ypical man in power. Arrogant, controlli

, she gave a small, uneasy smile, alm

op of the envelope, a stubborn smile tugging at my lips

head. "And what did

for Marketing Assistant, maybe. It's the

Lucas thinks I'll just sit around like a pretty doll, he

me since stepping foot on Erténa, I didn't just feel like someo