ram

hard's suite like a bullet from a gun, silently cursing h

corridor, her chest heaving with heavy breaths. Her heart was thuddin

ty, and never lay eyes on Richard Barton again. But let's be real-that wasn't an option. Not aft

deep down, she knew. Sooner or lat

r he threw so

up?" she muttere

her eyes again. That raw, inked-up body of his, all muscle and may

" she whispered, following the calming ritual like i

kind of reach that would sniff her out no matter where she ra

ing put was t

e middle of a mess she never asked for. She was fearless, sharp, and calculat

, she heard the sound of polished shoes clicking steadily against the marble floor. She looked up just as

Better move it," he said coolly, not even

d like she'd just

the door adjacent to the presidential suite. Each step felt like s

use

urned, her brows pinched and face tense, a hundre

softened just a fraction. Gone was the robotic indif

gue. Might save your skin," he said quietly, alm

own completely off by

e being..

n a handful of words since she started working here. And yet, here he was, offer

aid something similar earlier, urging

rse telling her to

t actua

her bruised ego and her basic survival instincts. Finally, with a sharp in

walked toward Richard Barton's study with the grace of s

ust barge in like befor

nd waited like a good

rs before his deep voice r

me

mpletely unaware that her entire life

or life five minutes ago. The black skin-tight t-shirt clung to his sculpted frame, paired with faded jeans.

d again. Why the hell did he

awking. He sat down casually and tapped

asked, not ev

-wh

ing me

wled up her neck as she bit her lower

rong with me? Get

tanding beside Richard's chair, hands clasped be

e file onto the table and g

ed conversation and realization about t

anding beside his chair. Richard dropped th

initially Mr. Barton was willing to let you explain. But

ke he wasn't even there. He

lutched her skirt. Proof? Where the he

"Check the CCTV footage. I'm su

d. "Already checked. We

d. "Nothing? That

er like a pun

li

ings. Accessed the system, wiped the evidence. Annabelle wasn't just f

esty. "I don't have proof. But I swear, I didn't mess up the first ti

eeks flushing. But Rich

ew papers, and shut the file.

k at

made her spi

to meet his-and Richard d

f eyes. It knocked him off his axis for a second, an

guard anot

d said, "you made two mistakes in fifteen minutes and a

t t

l does he t

d, screaming

again. Swallow it. Think

d I've learned from mine. I may not be perfect, but I

ice wa

nted. That sounded

t you," he said, a devilis

was finally talking directly. But her

y are. From now on, you'll work

uth dr

ve gotta be

oming a head chef. She wasn't about to throw tha

I can't

made Richard's jaw ti

Say no, and you'll be blac

, scrolling through co

ms. "Fine. Then I choose

pushing his

back to Richard Barton like this. And the crazy p

"Sure. Then pack your bags and run back to

t skippe

l Ham

lone ignit

k to that miserable excuse of a family. She'd sleep

pain and rage in her eyes-a

fted h

enough on my own. Fine. I accept your offer