everything to be in its place. But Lily Hart was proving to be a puzzle, one he was qu

ing again. This time, though, there was no calculated plan-no strategy-I just ne

e challenge of breaking through her walls. Either way, I was go

hone, and made my way to her office. I wasn't even bothering with a phone c

hat look of intense focus that always drove me crazy. The room was quiet, except for the rhythmic tappi

ven look up.

nd smooth, laced with just enou

l no

Hart, are you ignoring me? That's hardly fair. I did make an effort to introduce

I swear I saw a flicker of surprise, maybe even a little annoya

e replied, her voice cool, though there was a slight edge t

average client, Lily. I'm

ndulge me. She didn't like being challenged-especially not by someone like m

ticism, her brow arching slightly. "You have your own business

ling into a grin. "I'm not hovering

on her desk, dismissing me with a look that could've froze

nce, to let the tension simmer between us. "Is that so?" I said, leaning against the edge of her desk, just close enough that she had no choi

arsh, but there was something in it I couldn't ignore-a challenge. "I didn't build LushGlow to become some cookie-cutte

her that made me want to break thr

want to grow, don't you? Make your company the next big thing. I can help you with that. But you're not g

me want to laugh. "And what makes you think you can help me? What's your grand plan,

ders tense at my proximity. "But I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. And while you've got your heart

damsel in distress, Adrian," she bit out. "I'm not going to fall for your c

coming something more dangerous. "But let's not pretend you can do this all alone. You've built some

zing with fire. "I don't need you to push me. I do

tractive, more real. She was a force of nature-a woman who

layful grin. "But don't make the mistake of thinki

ifted with the kind of confidence that would've made

and taking a step back. "But I'm not here to drown you,

t she quickly masked it. "I don't

," I said, taking a slow step t

ing it-fighting me. But I could see the cracks, the small shifts in her

r at her. "You'll figure it out eventually, Lily," I said quietly. "You're smart, but y

retort, but I cut her

thank me

ce, leaving her to stew over my words,

with her. Not