Claimed by the Billionaire Tycoon

drifting back to Tessa. She sat quietly beside Elijah, scribbling notes in that pristine, professional way that made her seem calm and compos

e seemed small and out of place, like a delicate bird among

f her was undeniabl

her posture. Not fear, exactly, but wariness. A protective wall she'd built up around herself, and no doubt it had been necessa

elf, wondering how lon

he meeting. "Let's wrap this up. We have a de

on. When the room finally emptied out, Adrian stayed in his seat, the sound of his

ing to leave, but Adri

a, a

e slowly moved back toward the table. There was so

er. "You've been quiet during the meeting. I

he question. "No. I'm ju

l need to be more than an observer. I

on unreadable. "I'm not just h

at the corners of Adri

ng his challenge. "I don't take kindly

I'm sure you don't. But I'

em. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had dared to stand

if you ca

ut as Tessa turned to leave, he caught the slightest shift in her postu

an's gaze followed her, the intrigu

dox was d

f that was a good thing

verlooking the glittering lights of the city, he found himself lost in

et, and when he glanced at t

a Cas

o had been trying to tak

screen, acce

h a venomous undertone. "I trust you're still paying attention to the bi

remained calm. "I'm not ignoring you

d be. And so should your new assistant, Tessa Maddox. She

ling, but he kept his tone even. "You're wasting y

see about that. She's already in over her head, Adria

uld respond,

angerous, and her words never carried any hint of falsehood. But Tessa? She wa

he wasn't anything B

world, the more he wondered jus

he previous night's call. He needed to focus. He needed to keep his empire sa

f the elevator,

anned through some documents. She looked focused, almost det

d, his voice smooth but

with an almost defiant spark. "Mr. S

r day?" he asked,

slight shift of unease crossing her fea

le. There was something there, a battle she

't figure out

t