de felt longer

rored ceiling's harsh reflection. The Hughes Corporation headquarters gleamed like a monu

herself. Keep your head

evator

18th floor: Ma

earing designer suits. Julia clutched her staff badge and found her assigned seat-r

a woman's vo

der tucked under her arm. "I'm your supervisor. You'll handle errands

," Julia sa

lia's scuffed shoes. "Try not to look

a's cheeks burned, but she said nothing.

d breathe, the

hirt that barely fit his broad shoulders. His hair, once the

on Hu

n his faded clothes, t

s?" someon

't th

The diso

e Julia. "Morning," he said, voice casual-as if he didn't just

ened. "You

ntly. Don't worry, I'll try

that, she t

=

d like a slow-m

team's quarterly report. He jammed the copier so badly that even IT gave up. Julia

"You're responsible for assi

'd never agreed to babysit a grown man-but Brand

iled tightly and s

er nerves

how to refill the coffee machine. "You can't just pour t

That explains t

ng?" she snapped, grabbing the

ter, arms crossed. "I thought y

threatens my job wi

. "You could've j

ou keep fai

sed, the kind that made her pulse j

before he coul

=

e copier was still broken, and Ms. Sanders dem

ndon. "Move," she ordered, kneelin

it," he sai

done e

way, his arm brushing hers

urrounded by

ying to

breaking

ers appeared behind them. "Ju

d. "I-I'm a

s eyes narrowed. "And you-Mr. Hughes-try

on's jaw tightened. He said not

ghed and whispered, "I'll cover th

t move. "You

't, we ge

nodded. "You really

es. "I hate be

his expression-recognition. But before he

=

ul

. He stood in the doorway in a tailored suit, l

tmore. I-I didn't know you we

lid to Brandon, then back t

d him out int

g his voice. "You shouldn't

rowed. "He's

ble. You think the company forgo

roze. "

warning. You're smart, Julia. Don't

n't care about Brandon. He

ce, searching. "Good

e faint scent of his cologne and

=

ork, trying to ignore the whispers, the glan

a hurried to the copier. The machine sputtered but

amed Brandon. S

the uneven ink, Julia said, "It was

. "One more mistake,

slightly.

way, Julia felt a shado

s pockets, gaze unreadable. "You

up. "You would

ou do

pped up. "Do

slow, dangerous curve of li

her to feel his breath on her ear

tbeat st

er staring after him-furious, flustered,

=

men bri

ning echoed

appear into the elevator, a tra

uin look so hum