Once was never enough

cess it amid all the commotion in her mind. Her friends were still dancing on the

ne buzzing in her bag:

vening on spreadsheets and campaigns, regardless of whet

hter. Freedom. Forgetting h

she danced; it felt hot

m attention

nd him like a pricey background. He was dressed in a black blazer. No t

houlder to see that s

ckly, blushing. Well

n atmosphere of superiority

h when she saw him

d in fron

He asked, speaking in

them okay. I need to get awa

in charge. "Hone

to one side

't play games." He exte

epted i

r an additional second

other peop

nds.

. Did not mean to stay on, but." His gaze drif

o have smiled and rejoined her frien

f she were the only

said. She took a

said to her. She stood ther

use was pr

ke it had been computer-generated. Paintings on the walls

d gazed outside over towar

two glasses of scotch

l staring at the cityscape

belo

us and s

m. "So rich and sec

er to her. "Sti

leaned over to ki

ot do casual. But all this wasn't casual. It was all-consuming. All-encompass

e that they were

erything els

sunlight a

beside her

from her eyes, holding the sheets over her chest. Jax

ted? That he'd make her breakfast? Ask

ouched her, looked at her-it h

it on, and left before she

Months

rence room. This was it-the pitch that could earn her promotion. Her agency had bee

and stood in front of the

tayed

a

oment. Then, however,

o

toneless voice. "Nic

remem

calmly, her face unyielding. But s

Didn't smile. Didn

he used to

g at the end o

he told her after al

close before she spoke. "

d. "You're underta

e

ended

spered. Did that not

unyielding. "It was ju

mly like

v

llowed.

"You're very good at yo

he de

d previo