st her ribs. His bare, sweat-slicked chest was mere inches from

ainst his hard, damp shoulders. She pushed with all her mi

voice shaking with a mi

ds. He simply stared down at her flushed face, his dark eyes scanning her panicked exp

e ducked quickly, sliding under his thick arm and slipping cl

twisting slightly. She quickly straightened her pastel skirt, fra

pointed a shaking fi

ing. "Our relationship is strictly professional from th

crossing his muscular arms over his chest.

n?" he challenged, his v

," Elaine threatened, grasping at the only institutional power

The sound vibrated deep in his chest, ec

"Report me, Elaine. But before you do, you should know that my holding c

isparity in their power crashed down on her. Her career, her reputation, her entire

her stomach, she lifted her chi

eople," she stated, her voice trembling but fie

looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. He found her stubborn, reckless resilie

ck gesture of surrender. He decided to let

ng room, Miss Foster," he said, stepping backward a

d her leather lesson planner from the floor, and practically ran out

hing her retreating figure unt

rom his lips, replaced by

corner of the room. He picked up his encrypte

istant answered o

ice sharp and commanding. "I want everything. Her financial status, her family history, her d

nch. He unwrapped the black tape from his hand

idor. She was desperate to leave the suffocating penthouse.

potting the sleek silver doors of the

wn button repeatedly, her

he elevator doors r

d above the button flashed a bright, angry red.

t to descend to the lobby. She looked around frantically for a staircase, spotting a hea

igh-tech fortress. She couldn't lea

like bile i

avy, deliberate sound of footsteps a

ack pressing hard against the c

His wet hair was slicked back, and he was dressed in a fr

ked instantly ont