rn'
ears, and I never thought that a grim satisfaction was what I'd feel
nnoying. But they couldn't hide the emotions on
ally out of any places
, gently moving it from side to side
her shock. The stunned stillness in
o her neck. My mark from last night should h
sked for
h. God, how I'd missed the
alone. After everything we'd been through, I'd believed what we had was unbreakable. I'd exp
one. No note. No c
mber, only to hear the same automated message telling me the line was disconnected. I hired investigators, combed t
sign. Only a hollow space inside me, gnawing m
ed freely, while I was
er. And I would never all
in my world-until she paid
t clear, factual explanations." My voice was cold as I watched her approach and stop behind
s. I can pull the relevant files immediately,"
rmal delivery irritated me
grown claws over the
, lowering my voice with deliberate
utlining the company's recent performance. But I wasn't listening-not to her words. All I could see was the movemen
s, searching for my own reflection as I once could-just as I had last night, when
used to
oughly, but the door opened again. Two more
sitioned themselves beside Rosella, neither meeting
my clenched
ties. Time allocation. Response windows. Priorities," I s
r duties, but the only vo
way. Even through those unflattering frames, I wanted
nning, e
I asked, a faint, cold smile touching my lips, "whose w
her face. But it lasted only a moment. Instinctively, she took a small step
ction independently within their defined scopes, and historical pe
d so easily stand up for those she believed in now-yet when I had needed
y my standards." I shifted my attention to the other two assistants, who stood stiffly
hey were well-trained-but surviving under me
rallel processing prevents bottlenecks at your level. They report to me, and I report t
hat stubborn set of her jaw-it reminded me sharply of the girl I'd first met. F
surprising oppo
h had chan
discuss these responsibilities further. Since you're the senior executive assistant, I assume you
le rose only offered her a reassuring, almost tender smile in return. She could smile so ea
he could handl
furia
eded to hear, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, her gaze fixed somewhere past my shoulder. Every
d slowly seated myself on the edge of my desk. The distance
quickly, she regained her composure. The swiftn
tone dripping with sarcasm, "do you really
a crack to her composure showed. There was a long pau
eral times before she finally
over ye
every syllable. "Is it really that easy for y
. "We're no longer
huh? My jaw clenched, a hum
ven say my n
"I don't see the need. Beside
rage to say my name?" My teeth gritted. The
-W
w and relentless. "To wake up after you left me half-dead in tha
e glasses, she looked fragile, but it stirred no pity in me. My
head as my teeth gritted again. "I'
ead slowly, but
xplanation
a near-whisper, my lips almost brushing her ear. The familiar scent of her-so
flower no longer had
reason, and one reason only..." I paused, letting t
et her eyes-eyes that still r
horny little ros
/1/117711/coverbig.jpg?v=37182dbb8041547ac77430aaeb39c421&imageMogr2/format/webp)