Entangled Obsession

each other. The faint hum of whispered conversations mingled with the soft clinking of glasses, as though this

minutes perfecting that morning, cascaded in soft waves over her shoulders. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with a mixtur

ore than that. Sustainability, clean ingredients, and a hella lot of heart. It wasn't just about skincare-it was about giving

in suits that probably cost more than her rent for a year. Most of

king her wish sh

n Bla

combed back like a James Bond villain, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass "probably an actual hazard at parties", and those silver-gray eyes? The

way. Like she was some specimen in a lab, a puzzle that needed sol

d to it. But it didn't m

"LushGlow isn't just another skincare brand," she began, her voice steady and confident. "

agement in the last quarter. With the right investment, we can scale and bring this vision to the global stage.

sign. She could practically taste victory. But when her eyes flicked over to

ce cut through the silence. "Impressive numbers," he said slowly, the words dripping with a mixture of polite interest and something else-something that

a guy who probably got his coffee served by s

fighting the urge to roll her eyes. "

ve a dog when it finally stops barking. "Proposals are easy to write, Miss Hart. Execution is where

r the unspoken 'darling' a

to stop being so insufferable?" Instead, she smiled cool

she said, holding his gaze. "Something that

It slipped out befo

shed in his eyes. Good. S

ard, his voice dropping low and dan

**

the world" energy that made her want to flip a table. So instead of heading to her car, she found herself in the hallway of

il

ed and saw Evelyn-her best friend and co-conspirator-hurr

rating with excitement. "How did it go? Did anyone

Adrian Blackwell is definitely good at one thing

d over her heart. "The Adrian Blackwell?

," Lily d

You survived? I thought he only left surviv

rself. "It's like he's got a sixth sense f

all that snarky, control-freak energy is ju

se, no. That man's ego is big eno

to him?" Evelyn wa

an of men who think they can

l him your soul, I mean, your bu

t entered her voice. "I'm trying to sell him the future of LushGlow. But I'm

n a room with you and force him to watch the entire season of

ase from her shoulders. "I think I'd rather just hav

**

at had yet to make their mark on the world. The city outside was quiet, the lights twinkling like stars. Her fingers drummed against the edge of

into work, she glanced up and caught a

ack

stiff, deliberate-too still, almost unnaturally so, like he was waiting for something. The man's f

ng up her spine. She couldn't make out any details, bu

yone-some businessman, a stranger waiting for a ride, or maybe even someone

ut she had learned long a

her work, pushing the unease to the back of her mind. But she couldn't q