atly on the desk as she stared at the thick stack

re agreements, internal policies, and, most importantly, your cont

document. "Is this part of your standard on

"A little of both. If you can't handle t

lancing up to meet his sharp

sing his arms. He observed her for a mom

les, Eva. If you're going to work for

rving into a faint smile. "Rules? Do I ge

closer. His tone was calm but carr

ent. I don't have ti

She replied,

tractions. This isn't a pl

tal c

ghtly, "my schedule comes first. If I have a meeting

nd here I thought working for a

s a flicker of something else in his

Eva," he said, "and y

erwork in front of her. The language was dense and full of legal jargon meant to int

e stack, making notes on a separate p

ive back in, Ethan's voice

va

ntered his office, her not

"We have a meeting with a potential client in thirty minutes. I need

ock. "Thirty minutes?

a test," Et

les. "But if I pass, does that

ack. "Let's not get

rooms, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city skyli

om a tech startup, both young and eager but

an and offering insights that were equal parts brilliant and brutal. Eva watched

tives hesitated, fumbling with thei

d, his tone command

he revenue projections are overly optimistic. Adjusting them to

nodded quickly, sc

va, a flicker of a

good as sealed, and Ava felt a surge of p

er desk to find an email from Ethan w

r some passive-aggressive comment about th

ffic

distra

chedule

, typing: Noted. Let me k

at her desk, the faintest hint

oundaries, or is it j

to be tested," Av

his tone low. "Careful, Eva. T

e evenly. "I th

usted but satisfied. It had been a long day, but she h

eave, Ethan called her int

er file, "we're reviewing next quarter

va replied, ta

is gaze softening slightly. "Go

off guard by the u

said, her voice q

t help but smile. Maybe the rules o