hotel ballroom, my nerves

not mine. "Reassure the market," he'd said with

e hadn't just hi

lasses. Cameras perched like vultures at the edges of the crowd. The event had bee

rowd. "You've got this," she murmured, handing me a glas

hough I could feel my pulse in my

of investors. The gray of his suit looked almost silver under the chandeliers. H

od he looked u

n more that

licker of awareness. He excused himself from the investors and crossed

er here, almost intimate despi

ater. "Wouldn't want to ke

curved.

rdroom fan c

e podium in ten minutes. I'll start with an overview of the merger. You'll

ip," I repeated, swee

u're going to make this

y sec

ed him. That smile - it was dangerous, the way a cliff e

n with a tablet rushed up. "Mr. Cro

d the stage, a mock-chiva

st him witho

p at us - investors, journalists, competitors, all waiting to se

e wrapping around words like "synergy" and "global reach"

t was

ity. Those values remain unchanged. While recent events have created uncertainty, I want to assure you that our vision - my vision - rem

s flashed. Out of the corner of my eye, I sa

s of a personal relationship between us were true. My

unfounded speculation. Our relati

y professional," I echoed, m

More flashes. I wanted

stage, I beelined for

an's voice called

overlooking the city. The cool air hit me like a slap. I gri

door opened again.

ll," he said, coming to stan

re at him. "Do

oy w

me around like some trophy

nted to gut your company, Ms. Grant, I wouldn't

le. "You expect me to believe y

pping. "I expect you to believe I'm

old myself. Only anger. "I built GreenSphere fr

ustration? Respect? Both? "And yet y

y company, not to p

but it wasn't a smirk this time.

nce from the way he was looking at me. "You may have

ng moment, his express

ked. "

voice was low, almost a growl. "I wa

e terrace door clicked shut behind us, and suddenly it felt lik

eaking the moment. "Thi

head. "As you wish. We have another press

on the terrace with the sound of my own heartbeat a

I would not be another one o

y com

t

like I was a challenge, not a conquest

ad to survive this merger. S

headed back inside. Let h

idea what