Beneath the Rivalry

ed blazer. If Jake Hawthorne thought he could charm his way into controlling the Kingsley project,

notes. "I finalized the client data you requested," she

em swiftly. She wouldn't be caught unprepared

ia said. "But there

ha

called. Jake already booked a one-o

rse, h

d simmered. "Let him play his games,"

-

Jake was already there, his sleeves rolled up, lounging like he owned the place

gaze sweeping over her.

, dropping her folders on th

didn't comment. Kingsley's senior team filed

paigns. Targeted outreach strategies. A comprehensive plan to revitalize Kingsley's agin

arked when she finished. "You'

elina repli

was Jake

real-time data and consumer psychology with an effortlessness that

nnovative but sustainable," Jake concluded, casting a glance

e was doing-playing the cooperative angle to make hi

ing a decision by the end of the week. Celina gathered her n

murmured. "We m

. "We make a tolerable team.

and dangerous. "Still feist

nt ass," she snapped. "Some

d. "You used to li

rate you. There

eized the excuse to escape. "I have work to do

wait for hi

-

was still fuming wh

" her best friend asked, her

groaned. "Jake is as

active?" Cat

s irre

ly. "Deny it all you want, bu

of her nose. "It's not spa

used. "But be careful, Celina. J

d to believe that. But years of bad

-

ning, Jake s

coffee cup waiting on her desk-her exact order.

. Just co

spicion and curiosity. Finally, she took a sip. Per

strolled into her

" he said, his t

caffeine bribery

id, leaning against the doorfram

offee makes up for years of being a

ust a fraction. "It was n

caught. "It

lickered in his eyes-a hint of regret. "I know,"

ily speechless. Jake Haw

?" she d

, "Because I don't want us to d

with meaning. For a heartbeat, the tension shift

er voice lacked its usual bite. "But one

s smile returned, but it was

since this whole mess began, Celina wasn