His Billion-Dollar secret

nd him. The faint hum of the bustling metropolis echoed through the soundproof windows, yet in this moment, the world

with an air of quiet confidence, the kind that came from years of hard work and self-reliance. Cassian had always admired th

im at the contact, but Cassian didn't let it show. Not that Seraphina would notice. She was always so pr

n remarked, his voice casual but probing

a hint of exhaustion in her eyes. "You pay me to make sur

hed. "I've told you

lightly, her voice not giving away much.

dn't figure out how to get past it. Not that he should care. She was his employee, after all. An excellent one. Still, there

his chair, his eyes never leaving her face. He watched for a f

ed at her watch. "If there's nothing else, I have a f

k and folded his hands together. "How

e ye

never once taken a vacation. D

ion. She hadn't expected him to notice, let alone care. "I don'

ed into a half-smile.

gage in small talk. Everything about him was sharp, calculated. She knew he was testing her, probing for so

k," she said, her voice ste

ai

sian had stood up from his desk, moving toward her with the slow, measured grace of a predat

ked, her tone betraying nothing o

d space. He studied her for a moment, as though trying to peel back the layers of her carefu

tly, his voice low and dangerous. "I c

was perceptive, but the way he looked at her now, as though he could see

r. Ashford," she replied, h

knowing glint in hi

to his desk. Seraphina took the opportunity to leave, her pulse racing as she walked down the

ough his ruthless reputation in the business world was well-deserved. No, Cassian was dangerous because he made her feel things she couldn't afford to feel. She h

e. There was work to be done, and she could

ystery, and Cassian hated mysteries. He prided himself on knowing everything about the

He had tried, in subtle ways, to get her to open up. Casual conversation, invitations to

sense it, though he hadn't been able to figure out what it was. He knew he should let it go,

er, his eyes still on the empty doorway

voice on the other end.

check on Seraphina Ev

re the man responded. "I'll g

nd already spinning with possibilities. Whatever Seraphina was hidi

lway

he glanced at the screen and frowned. It was a message from her father, somethin

We have business to d

r with a sense of dread. She hadn't spoken to him in weeks, and whenever he reach

hate

typed out a respon

ing send. There was no use in trying to avoid him.

ning air, her thoughts drifted back to Cassian. There was something about him today, something more intense th

Ashford was her boss, and more than that, he was dangerous in ways that went beyon

Seraphina made a silent vow to herself. She would keep things professional, no

corners of her mind, she wond

as always, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors as she made her way to her desk. The office was still quiet, the wor

presence nearby. Looking up, she saw Cassian sta

reeted, forcing a cal

there was a tension in his posture

sing that something was off

nt before he spoke, his voice low. "I fou

t, though she kept her

with implication, "he's been making move

's blood