y

r's place, drenched from head to toe,

to catch a cold at this rate!" sh

ng a smile onto my lips.

ly, her eyes searching my face. I knew she saw it-the stiffness in m

d quickly, as if that alone could era

lickering across her e

"Don't be. If anything, I should be the on

ed light, but s

't know about Kyle's refusal, about the bond still tying

ed explanations.

ftly, changing the subject be

eat later. I coo

ed, and I nodded gratefull

found Mira pacing back and forth in the livin

ticed me. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she

whispered, excitem

, a composed, professional

ecretary from Howl Entertainment Corp

art s

replied, suddenly aware of

today," she continued. "Mr. Zane would li

nter

echoed in

Zane himself," she added calmly. "Plea

allo

ly involved himself persona

ickly. "Thank yo

tared at the phone for a

let out

e cried, pulling

rview," I said, thou

eaking as she held me tighter,

t was what mad

ng to each other as joy finally spilled over.

d taken from me-every cold word, e

was

sorrow. Rejoicing

rtache he left behind was softened-if

s apartment wearing the neat forma

n, unfamiliar-like I was stepping in

ilding, the receptionist from yesterday look

asked, her smile

es

n, then gestured toward the eleva

ered with each

already feel it-the pressure in the air

nd steel, the city stretching

vibrating through my bones. Every instinct

. When our eyes met, his gaze flicked briefly to

a Va

es

was no warmth in his

er it t

. Not quite approval, but acknowled

before I could st

, no lingering musk of dominance meant to ove

leamed. Every a

n hand, his back turned to me. Sunlight carved sh

without looking. His v

signify something, but before I could dwell on i

the wall. Early by three minutes. "

didn't turn. "How

en my ribs. I forced myself to bre

g I'm not

ned his

ettling on me with an intensi

away, seeing far more than I had offered. His gaze lingered on

down with deliberate care. He took a step close

n inte

t inside my personal space-not quite threatening, but close

but I held his gaze.

ooking for something cr

t tugging at the corner of his

ste your time pretend

charged, electric. His eyes n

from my assistant?" he as

keep

can

up a fraction.

s gaze sharpened, something predatory

artbeats, he

ocused stillness of a wolf

ctedly, he s

," he said. "

tinued. "Tonight, you'll accompan

eath

r Cr

ed even, clinical. "You'll observe, take notes, and s

rcle. The very people who would r

ut I forced my expres

hose people make me miss out on t

derst

re. Then paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "You'll wear what

uth to question it, but

ppropriately," he added, each word preci

won

something close. Something that suggested he found m