: Two Day

one today, and I haven

e lobby of Sterling Towers, my assistant Biodun strugglin

't close. The board wants a meeting about the quarterly pr

on. And tell my grandmother I'm busy." I don't break stride, noddin

Good. Fear bre

been with the compan

lose a deal." I stab the elevator button. "Ter

He's been my assistant for three years-long enough to

ltivated: sharp suit, sharper expression, eyes that reveal nothing. Leonardo Sterling, 32,

ucha

acha

how I pr

he conference room where my senior management team waits. T

e head of the table. "We have t

olutions. This is my element-cold logic, strategic thinking, profit margins and

stries from nothing. I've tri

r people who ca

al," my CFO, Adeyemi, is saying. "The curre

Find someon

been with us f

s. Business is business, Adeyemi. If they can't meet our

dismiss them and head to my office, a

rlooking Lagos, minimalist furniture, everything preci

ingapore contracts

ning schedule. One of their staff is in t

s. "Let her finish. I need these contra

sections for revision. This is what I'm good at-finding weaknesses, exp

back to the conference room

y mind on Section 12, S

s as she stares out at the city. She's small-petite frame in worn jeans and a simple

till, like she's d

on, the way her fingers splay against the glass like she

she t

eyes

est-something I though

world. Her face is natural, makeup-free, with high cheekbones and full lips. Dark e

les under those eyes, hands slightly reddened fro

old-like she's been caught stealing a m

g a cleaning cart I hadn't noticed. "I

The words come out s

ite meet my eyes now. "I

ai

free

hould let her leave. I have work to

ity about a woman wh

your nam

might be a trap. "Evely

s her somehow-classic, understate

mon

g out windows when yo

thing flashes in her eyes-not fear

logize. It won'

industrial cleaner mixed with something floral-cheap

i

," I observe, glancing

s,

y cl

k you

dest conversation, and

ys do such t

n flickering across her face. "I

is I can't stop

bidden, unwelcome, and

I step aside

ly, like she's escaping. I catch

closes be

ing at the windows she cleaned, and for th

ling doesn't

the contracts, back to the world of numb

can't

ed shoulders keep int

enters with coffee and

ns casually. "Wanted to apologize if their

he words come out too quic

y. In three years, I've never

ed,

at my computer scre

. We exist in completely different universes

n-the cleaning staff. Do you want the same people as

ppropriate, completel

hear myself say. "Famili

ourse

entially see a woman whos

s not

traction. I certainly don't do fascin

orrow's schedule to ensure I'll be

het

do it