i P

in my arms as I marched down the rubber-matt

steel elevator doors and

akable, steady rhythm that set my nerves on fire. The scent of winter

rt was standing less

arply it accentuated every inch of his broad, athletic frame. His dark hair w

d speak, the elevator ar

ked inside. Two junior marketing coordinators, a corporate accountant

ushing forward. I was shoved straight into the crowded elevator cab, losing my balance. My po

d corner. I looked up, my face burning, only to meet Kurt's icy blue eyes. A fai

rs, completely oblivious to the fact that the billionaire owner of the fr

ld me from the crush of bodies, maintaining a subtle, highly

levator began its climb to

cating, broken only b

ering in a tone that was supposed to be quiet but

d. "You know how he never lets a woman within ten feet of him?

giggled. "Yeah, he'

his Escalade parked outside the Duran Hotel at da

knuckles turned white. My heart was pounding so har

er voice dripping with venom. "I heard from security that she practically rode him in the back

ugh the floorboards. I shot a panicked, flustered glare ov

clearly enjoying this. With agonizing slowness, he raised his left hand to his throat. His lon

If anyone in front of us simply turned their head, they would imm

screaming at him to stop. Kurt's lips simply curved into a faint smile, thorou

adjusting her matcha cup with a sniff, emboldened by the gossip. "Probably

oor. The urge to shove my portfolio

was dead calm, dropping the temp

hipping their heads around to find the apex pre

nt department t

just stared at the digital f

e to spew vile, baseless gossip in my elevato

second. She choked on her breath, clutching her cup so hard the plasti

ed at the floor as if th

he was just a ruthless boss defending his own privacy, but I knew t

ared to

loudly. Floor 12.

terrified silence inside the cab linger