. Jason's suit jacket brushed against her arm as he leaned against the wall, his a

r fictitious relationship, which had become more real with each passing hour. She had anticipated the night to be a spectacle, a

ing ha

e tension between them was apparent now, like a dense fog she couldn't shake. His jaw was hard

uired, her tone gentler

nd Amelia saw a glimpse of something behind them-perhaps annoyan

nded, his voice slig

ssure rise in her chest. What had been a rational business arrangement was

e unlocking the door. He turned to face her, his eye

the night had affected her. How much the weight

was beautiful, with towering ceilings, panoramic views of the metropolitan skyline,

ng throughout the wide expanse. He turned and fastened h

his voice low and heavy with something she didn't

r throat dries. "

pace. "We need to make sure this isn't just a perform

n her throat. "And

ap between them, his hand reaching up to

ent a thrill of heat through her,

his lips were on hers-soft at first, as if testing the wat

kiss was intense, hungry, and unexpected. She couldn't breathe or think. Every muscle in her body tensed, but the war

to the arrangement-an act, a show. But the lines between what was phony and what was genuine began to blur, an

d and her lips tingled from the contact. Jason's count

his voice scratchy, "i

nd reeling. This wasn't simply

r more than she

ps. She could still feel the heat of his kiss, the magnet

the deal," she mumbl

g remained erratic. "It wasn't supposed to

ery hung in the air, with a st

ugh to reveal the fissures in his normal armor. "Be

a reminder that beneath the hard veneer lay a guy who wasn't as invinc

e," she said, raising her voice. "This may be pretend for

playing

towering stature terrifying yet somehow reassuring. "I am not going to

er pulse pounded in her ears. Was he s

. "I realize I've asked a lot of you. I have crossed lines

phony and genuine, were blurred beyond recognition. And now, standing here with Jason looking at

ust you," she replied slo

ble. "Then trust yourself," he replied. "You wouldn't

ments made her chest tense.

ced finally, walking around

e and stepped into the crisp night air, Amelia realize

crack in the barriers she had cons

e came quickly an

Then came the emails, which were anonymous tips to HR questioning the suitability of her

his office uninvited. She threw a document on his desk with

e doctored photos of him and Amelia in compromising poses, as well as falsified te

," Jason said, slamm

you've created. The board dislikes scandals, Jason. You are awa

is is no longer simply business, Sophi

ded, her voice chilly. "You used that girl to g

isting the temptation to stri

d leaned closer.

her words fall on him. She was correct: this

about s