te. "That's everything I have for S

ain pushing himself back from his chair, clapping with a

followe

her head. Relief washed over her shoulders. Ten minutes ago, she'd bee

d. Erik offered a warm, satisfied smile that mad

s found the m

entation screen. He was looking at her. His expression was an unreadable

ike sand through her fingers. It felt as tho

ually into his pockets. "Congratulations, Ms. Hale.

ou, Mr.

like that," Erik chuckled. "You've

She'll think you're recruitin

ight

f distance between his stepbrother and Inara. She smiled far mor

asual chatter evaporated a

oncept?" His voice was perfectly leveled,

ver. "That wou

u developed everything? The branding, cu

sir. The design team assisted with the visual mock

t was created by an external agency. The fact that it wasn't make

pbrother, a faint crease appearing on his brow. Luc

ngers, abruptly shattering t

imidating stranger at the back. Discussing her financial desperation

Finance," Zain continued, oblivious to he

a polite smile, though her knuckles turned white against the presentation remo

er. "Settled?" He knew exactly how s

ram," Inara explained, keeping her tone light to mask the lingering dr

incredible,"

astronomical bills overnight without month

dation?" Lucien's voice cut th

on't know. The nurse said i

n severed the

pped to his bro

act second anonymity was mentioned. A col

"Mr. Mercer, I've been wondering what brought you he

n he finally looked at Zain, his expression was back to sto

rt caught you

"I've seen marketing teams with considerably larger budgets produce

se," Zai

ce more, "I want Ms. Hale to present the complete c

e a physical blow. Lucien wasn't here to observe

lite smile completely failing to reach his eyes. "You'v

e air between them dropped below freezing.

et chuckle. "Glad Sweeth

a fraction of a second before pinning Erik do

eyes sharpened into a feral w

said anything inappropriate. Yet the

, delivering a courteous nod before looking back at

it," Erik r

. The room remained paralyze

ator arrived. They stepped inside. The heavy doors sl

entation schedule for Revani Hold

N

blinked

n intervie

d in confusion. "Sir... Ms. H

oors opened, Lucien adjusted his tailor

e w