as built to make

wed the sky. For two years I had walked into this building through the staff entrance on the side, with my cheap umbre

n woman. You have survived a cheating boyfriend

e buzze

'VE BEEN PROMOTED TO CEO AS

how we met, and I didn't plan to. But ly

nd changed his mind. That's all

rian Blackwood?? The man has ne

en like that don't g

e was right, and that wa

I swiped the black card at the private elevator, the doors opened at once, and t

ning, Mis

e who she was talking to. Me

Floor forty. The doors slid open on a quiet hallway with dark wood f

Outside h

thick leather planner, and a paper cup of coffee,

ays you drink it at the bus stop eve

side the cup sat

as embarrassing. But the part that made my chest tighten was the handwriting, beca

re ea

un a

it should have been illegal. His hair was still damp. His expression was as cold as ever, like we had never

rning, Mr.

my eyes. "One: be here at eight, not seven-thirty. Two: do not l

wasn't g

lunchtime. Not at your

hat's not a c

my r

ake rules ab

tablet onto the desk. "Is th

re being r

swallowed. Oops. Oh, I had just insulted the CEO on my

er of his mouth m

d. "Then you c

fice, and the door cl

t pounding like I had run

I understood w

expected it to appear. He rejected two schedules, corrected one email, and read a contract in unde

. He thanked the cleaning lady by name. And every ti

topped at my desk with a sneer alrea

ad once told the entire fifth floor about a gir

," I said

rk forgettable in front of the whole team." She smiled with h

e pen. "I'd keep your voic

know. Everyone's wonderin

in

from behind me,

in his pocket. He didn't look at me. He looked only at her,

he said, "I can find you a department with few

ackwood, I d

G

rly tripping

"Wow. You didn't

kno

dle people

and something in his face softened for half

and I sat there with a pounding h

the afternoon, and it w

osed, but his private lounge, a small room behind the office, was open a crack, and I he

wood, I ha

in my throat. O

er broad shoulders and a long, strong back, every muscle carved and lean, like someone who trained to be strong rather than to be adm

o breathe. Wow

eyes met mine, wide, dark, and for t

s Mo

u were..." My whole face was on fire. "I'l

aw som

I have terrible eyesight.

ing glasses

reached up.

t the ceiling. His voice, when it came, was strangely rough, and there wa

e said, "wait

lutely. I'

d E

es

d quietly, "I will not lie to you.

ny little turn. "I

his throat. "Go del

ly until I was back at my desk, where I pressed both hands to my burning cheeks and thought, wi

cking up when th

t into a perfect twist, and a smile as smooth as poured cream. She smelled of lilies and expensive money. Behin

an warmly. "You mu

in the building had told her my name.

orry,

n's stepmother. And this is my daughter, Chloe. We simply h

into place with

kwood mansion had a

nt, Mrs. Blackwo

me wrapped around me like a velvet glove. "But I do hope you're ready. My hu

ross my desk. It had a gold seal on

t only I could hear. "Don't let Adrian walk you through the

sniffing behind her, and the ele

y hands shaking, sta

elegant black ink

o the fam