A Deal with the devil ( Tangled lies)

e'd warned her from the start that everything about this union would be strictly business. But what

ant barrage of his sharp words, cold stares, and unrelenting temper. He had little patience for mis

ng was no

preadsheets he'd asked her to prepare. Max stood at the other end of the room, staring out th

clipped, almost mechanical, but she could hear the anger ben

to mind. She had spent the last two hours revising the financial

ns," she said, her voice steady

o face her, his dark eyes narrowing as th

night." His voice was ice-cold, his words dripping with disdain. "How d

she cared to admit. She'd tried. She really had. But Max had a wa

muttered, though she wasn't sure if sh

or my amusement. You're here to get this company back on track." He took a few purposeful steps toward her, hi

meone who can. The words echoed in her head, tauntin

rmer now, despite the nerves still twisting in her sto

shouldn't have to babysit you. You signed a co

f weakness. She was no stranger to pressure. And if there was anything sh

ence between them was suffocating. Max stood behind her, his eyes never leaving her as if watchi

ment. Every task was a test. Every moment felt like she was walking on egg

tions are wrong." Max's voic

rt sinking into he

"You've miscalculated the revenue growth in Q3. You're off

re shaking, unable to move fast enough to

tion. "That's exactly what I mean. You didn't realize. You don't pay

st tightening. "I d

ce like ice. "If you were trying, you w

words died on her lips. What was the point?

, every mistake. And all she could do was sit there, feeli

is massive desk. His tone was final, as though the conv

e screen in front of her. She couldn't afford to make ano

hing her every move. He didn't trust her. He didn't believe in her. And every time she mad

s. It wasn't about love. It was a business arrangement, nothing more. He'd never

very failure, no matter how small, was met with his cold, biting critic

hrough her thoughts. He stood and straightened his suit jacket

. "Done?" she asked, though it was

The numbers can wait. You'll fix them by tomorrow.

ot sting of frustration flare in he

wasn't kind. It was condescending, di

d to admit. But she wouldn't let h

and headed for the door. "Get it right

and Clara let out a breath she h

pressing down on her chest. Not good enough. He had said it

third time he had reminded her of how much she was failing. The third

ctly clear that this was her last chance. No room for

father's legacy

thing for certain: she couldn't aff