open. "You'r

someone other than me? And I

anted to

a problem with that Ms. Ibe? Or do you usually greet

ep back. "M

oat. He gestured towards me. "This is Miss Amara Ibe, our lead

really getting married. It wa

single nod

I had missed it so much.

ward. "Yes, I

. "Pleasure to meet yo

didn't know his body as well as he did mine. As if our morning breaths had never mingled day

ke his hand

lowered his hand and began

final venue l

d. The words tasted li

oo

throat. "Shall we b

sat. Mr. Wade began with clipped questions. Experience? References? NDAs? I answered on

e. He was just pretending. Why? A

each other?"

ed my

she's the best in the game. An

this a joke? Was this rea

of the packages and timelines. So we could be

e've prepared a walkthrough of the main garden a

occupied. Sera is a private woman.

Now if you'll excuse me, I

three of us. The silence in the room was pronoun

he said, aiming a meaningful look at me. She exited the room soon after, the d

sn't remember anything from his past. I dismissed all of them as rumors, ignored any information about him for self-preservation... until now. It al

d ways ever. I wanted to say something, to scream. Yet the words couldn't form. So I kept silent and stared at him. He stared back at me, pos

p. "Is th

r, his expression was unread

u really don't know me? You, Zane Bla

... seems to ring a bell." The way my name rolled off his tongue caused shivers t

me. He was too good at pretending

ok a step toward me. "How

Zane was close enough now that I could see the faint scar beneath his left eye

eping my tone even. "This

, studying me. "Yo

mes with me, Z

e said, voice dippi

disapp

wh

rk for you before kn

fish this time. "And

. "Now I know to

ned. "Have we me

ked the air from

he said, mouth curving slightly. "But

. I hated him for it, and for how badly I

y. "But you're acti

a smirk. "Th

es from crossing

f hair from my cheek, fingers gra

feel familiar. Like somet

ine. He took another step towards me. I mo

breath against my lips. The other hand came up to my face. He dragged a finger down my cheek. I shivered at his touch. H

on he had just before he kissed me. And he looked like he wanted to kiss me. Eyes dilated, hand

s lips merely a hairs brea