BOUND TO THE BLACKWOOD BILLIONAIRE

't look at

he had set himself. Lila stood frozen in the quiet workspace, her skin still tingling everyw

o breathe, to steady

at her. She knew how to carry burdens quietly. But this... th

d her hair, inhaled deeply

e. Don't let t

d to bury herself in paperwork. But the atmosphere

halted mid-sentence. A few coworkers

y, pretending

rose almost

e her with

came out of

was c

k... somethi

pulse

n

ere he'd tried to comfort her? Or-worse-the moment whe

e side and whispered to another cowo

t. He always b

them

that ev

Jenna walked past her desk-sl

etly, "seems like some

n't know what you'

n, lowering her voice. "Everyone

"There's not

arpened. "Good.

staring after her with confusion

it feel like there was something everyon

inish the work Aiden assigned. She would not let his

, the tensi

grew more

t her like she w

vague reminders about "professional b

icu

ng ha

thing had al

had shut

or felt poisonous, the te

Claire approa

you met Vi

rowned

consultant. She used to work closely

tone sounded caut

ontinued. "Just... be polite. Be ca

t? W

She just gave Lila a tig

e slid down

-

or dinged

-and the world

dress that looked sinfully expensive. Her heels clicked with confidence. Her brown

tor

introduction, Li

hanged ar

e sti

ispered

right-she just walked like

r eyes lock

curi

conf

her as if she were som

slowly, each

nt," Victoria said, voice sm

... Lila Hart. N

n her blouse, her skirt, her shoes-an

he murmured. "You

lite smile. "I'm

're learning a lot quickly, aren't

ttered. "I don't

ease. I've been around long

ter

ing her voice just enough for

g. You're not the first girl to catch h

ed from Li

"He burns through people. Employees. A

stomach

not-" sh

n, her perfume su

t and stay in

sts. "I'm only here

-a slow, cruel

es narrowing. "Because the ones

snapped t

r surviv

ips swaying, confidence

shakily, her

Why did she feel so threatened? And why did ev

g and returned to her tasks, but

ing fel

e felt

dness now had a shadow

-

ake copies of several reports. She walked past a slightl

a f

trying to

ven supposed

were impossi

om. "Every time he brings someone new in, they th

ured something Li

hed-low, hars

" Victoria said. "She'll be

breath

art st

rld seemed to

ued, voice cold

ing he touches. I

ck quietly, her

e he'll

t o

d with something to

nto something she

really tha

Victori

idn't

at Blackwood Industries had just turned

suddenly very