BOUND TO THE BLACKWOOD BILLIONAIRE

n the next morning,

lted her awake, but either way, her body knew

rk shade of navy. Only a handful of lights glowed inside the building-janit

ike him didn't sleep. Or if they did, it was probably in

med softly as it

fourteenth...

ew louder wit

s silent. Too silent. Lila walked carefully toward Aiden's offi

ntly k

nt

nd controlled-yet somehow

epped

rolled elegantly to his forearms. Papers were organized in perfect lines

which shouldn't have made her h

ing, Mr. B

illed. "Yo

t to risk bei

er the smallest flick

it

osite him. He handed h

r our Evergreen expansion. Then comp

ack at her like a foreign language, but

do t

oo

his attention

. I prefer temporary confus

p-but maybe, in his world,

oft clicking of keys, the faint turning of pages, and occasionally,

in the air w

't comforta

... ch

held a storm

ed up-just to breathe, just to

was alwa

s foc

ys s

, yes-but that w

ow still

erly co

emotions

clock, he final

s Ha

a little.

pped pag

idn't mean to. I was co

s fi

out hi

it t

gers brushed hers-barely a touch, barely a sec

n fr

or a m

ed back, jaw

said, voice s

heart wasn't li

ila made notes, reorganized files, fetched coffee that Aiden barely drank, an

raised

r sn

lost c

n them lingered-quiet,

n finally leaned

rning quick

aught her off gu

ffer prais

noti

held her gaze longer

readable fli

hing

, pretending to

e'll continue after lunch. Y

and gathere

d the door, his v

s Ha

tu

said. "You haven't taken

lifted. "Yo

if regretting

b to notice

t wasn'

this

notic

efore she could ov

-

irs. Her mind replayed the morning over and over-the quiet tension,

s office exactly t

by the window, star

?" he

s,

Come

ore strategy. Hours blended together until the

g a supplier dispute, Lila s

ked up im

hing w

"Just... thinki

ew together.

y anything. "She's been sick for a w

on changed-subtl

dness s

of his j

ropped a sh

ecovers," he

rity surp

nk y

s if to ask something

his pho

the wall slammed

ime is over. Continue wit

me the Ice

o focus. But the brie

wasn't a man w

terrified o

-

mployees had gone home. Even Jenna had left hours ago,

final reports and finally a

lized how exha

yes b

scles

felt tight

ack of documents she'd pr

sed her

he life she

ling like she

it, tears blur

m quickly, sh

here. N

he quiet kind that hurt mor

ing into the dim, empty workspace, leaning

ght she

t she was

ht no one

s Ha

ice wa

os

cl

around, bre

he light from his office silh

e, his expression was

hing far mor

nc

Chapte