Beneath the Rivalry

calm under pressure, but Jake H

ate nights blurred into early mornings, and Celina had barely left her office. If she

a folder. "I updated the client outreach stra

na asked, alread

sed proposal this morning. He tweaked the ana

f course it is. He

cautiously. "He's working just a

t her apart, but knowing Jake was matching her effort unsettled he

y. "I want a full client profile ana

slumped in her chair and sighed. She neede

-

filled the Montgomery Club. Celina had no intention of relaxing-

urve, she swept through the marble foyer, eyes sca

er to no end. His dark navy suit fit like it was tailored specifically to tempt her, and worse

as charming. He

ntlemen," she greeted with a smile that was all professi

. Jake was just telling us about his vision

vision without execution is just daydreaming

ays so competitive," he murmured, his voice low en

apped under her breath, t

" he counter

ey, painting a picture of seamless collaboration. Celina hated how e

ould play

Jake. The scent of his cologne-dark and warm-wrapped around her senses. "You

per, more dangerous. "No. But it's fu

d. "I'm not losi

loser, the heat of his breath grazing her

he bit out, though her hear

t a thrill through her veins. "I don't n

s nearness was a challenge-a dare

he said sweetly. "And when I wi

eat too long. "If I didn't know better," he murmu

sion vibrating between them. It wasn't just rivalry-it

action," she said, though her voi

w, wicked. "But I'm starting to

Kingsley executives called Jake ov

-

ce early, hoping to reclaim the upper hand.

der. Sa

ot a tr

sed to soften. This was war, and no amoun

er phone buzzed with a

ight? You need to ven

nly if th

atherine already had a bottle of red open. "You

t hesitation. "He's everyw

softly. "Still r

Celina insisted. "I

wled. "Focused on winn

er a glare. "

sipping her wine. "The tension is p

na scoffed. "I wan

e calling it now?"

Celina laughed. "

lass. "And you're in d

-

ake. The way his gaze lingered too long. The heat beneath his smooth words. For years, s

were clawing their

t careful, they

thing to push him out of her head. But as she analyzed the data, a new realiza

twisted. She

If he thought he could beat her, he had another thing coming. Because if