ey's

ect it to fee

- all of it pressed in the moment I

an

business

mist

se

d, almost too quiet. But I felt

ce in greetin

polite - strip

replied, just

posed to be alo

r brief introductions, until the door clicked shut an

his pen against paper, the subtle shift of his chair, t

t turned pages, calm and deliberate

een... if I hadn't seen

't realize

oposal in front of me, but

or the Jean–Walter merger," I sai

nally - eyes ste

id. "If you ca

lled on the pag

ir, gaze not leaving mine.

'm

ved slightly.

tone to stay sharp. "I

eter - dangerous. "I just didn't expe

ed. "What's that

a moment that felt

d away. "Nothi

rough, and too deliberate - tol

t didn't exist. "We should finalize the pre

e said soft

d. Not from words - but from

met, it was like step

behind my eyelids - his hands, his breath, tha

enly, coming a

fro

enough that I could feel the

d - his sleeve brushing my wrist, lig

His tone was smooth, professional - b

murmured, with

the paper, his fingers g

t felt li

and instantly. "

't move.

lips wasn't a soun

ng at him - and the restrain

please

to know if y

r disap

talking about." My voice ca

lmost sounded like a laugh, but t

ments with trembling hands.

dn't s

say anot

I felt his gaze follow me

e, I exhaled shakily, pressing

t I could m

e mistake under profe

s from him again h

s - a lapse in judgment, a crue

s stil

li

iti

an'

prete

ing to hold the distance. But it's there between us.

end the night never happened

ing it up. But the silence

the paper, her breathing shallow. The same woman who had

acted like I

ed to l

eall

ipped out before

ou rem

ted, calm on the surface, but

ember

smiled. "F

air a little too fast.

her composure. The one she tried t

on instinct, and touched her wrist.

at mark rested - the on

my gaze. "This isn't going to wor

h me," I sa

slightly - and then, sh

s. No gl

of her perfume still lingered - mad

me in years, I realiz

just want

ules she hid behind until she