Forbidden Stranger

doors slide shut behin

wly. No

my arm and steering me to

late,

ops wa

ike this is summer camp instead of a career bloodbath. Bella doesn't

a tech CEO publicly single you out lik

ot what h

e says. "You're

he air feels different out here - less controlled

You didn't just walk in l

red his

like you were dar

close it. She's not wrong, and th

ou?" she continues. "Not like th

what,"

"Like someone trying to decide

mach t

ot a thin

tely a thing. And he already

esting," I reply. "I need

orcing me to follow. "Those

idn't ask for. The city hums - cars, voices, footsteps - n

ilding, then at me. "Also,"

ke. "

I hav

not re

ecially when powerful men start notici

alking t

sed. "You're telling me

targeted

slowly. "

One of them looks at me, whispers someth

tices im

urs. "You're al

ate

ys. "Which is wh

building. Glassy. I

n my head - Late arri

for attention,

jokes for half a second. "No. B

't an

offee. You look like you're hold

ually enou

me toward the corner café. "Today you al

her dr

ay, I know something s

challenge me to p

me to see if

I

e enough that everyone funnels towa

an empty table like she's planning a heist. I follow her in

ma

ns overlap. Laughter spikes t

en the

t before

pa

lingers half a

at stops when

ns in. "D

not,"

g that thing where they pretend they're

me openly. Not curious - assessing. Like

to Bella. "I d

ime," she replies. "Power pro

nto my shoulder and doesn't apologize. A

ten my sp

d us murmurs,

stif

tu

wearing that effortless confidence money teaches yo

d that well

," I reply

in. "Bold approach. Not

t asking

t laugh. The woman's

she says, a

"Wow. First e

't do a

dly," Bella says

s steady despite the buzz crawling under my skin

NYI

turn

cup like it

the window. Bella drops i

says. "You

e that

s. "But you're not

and disappear. The surface reflects my fac

mething co

ne vib

, I don't

wn nu

thout think

," a familia

st tig

r

," he continues, tone light.

n what," I a

he says. "And wh

widen acros

usy,"

easily. "That's why t

from the table. Bel

?" I

ed today," Eric says. "But you are t

lse j

n't my in

e says, "are ra

pause. D

s. "Someone will b

hat,"

I can hear it. "That depend

ne goe

the phon

like I just annou

"the tech CEO just call y

es

e firs

es

to the table. "You a

heart racing, c

if that call

invi

y, the rules