Against all odds: crowned by fate

oss Harper's design studio. The day was already in full swing, with designers and seamstresses deep in their

hing over the fabric with practiced ease. The collection was coming together, but ther

ld

it was him. His presence carried a weig

s," he said, stopping beside her. "You'l

surprised by his effi

n a tight

and undeniably masculine-curling a

she said, keepi

zer she had been worki

cut before we mo

ainst the fabric, but the movement sent a shiver d

one made her tense

ing the conversation back to business. "I need to make sure

send you the final specs today.

et, the space between them hummed with uns

Mer

the entrance of the studio. Her sharp eye

d, unwilling to let the older wo

knowledged, his exp

action too long before she turned her att

ntinue this later," he told Harper bef

ked beside Vivian down the sleek, glass-paneled hallway leading t

ice behind her and turned, arms c

is desk, unfazed. "Is t

Vivian said smoothly.

r is the lead designer on

sculpted brow. "I've see

laugh, though there wa

father built this company on control. Streng

in his jaw. "I a

r. "But you carry his name. And

etween them. "Mercer Industries is thriving becaus

g him. "Then prove it. Don't let H

ian took that as a victory. "Make sure this pr

nst him like a vice. Harper sat on her apartment balcony that evening, a glass of wine in hand, the

her mind kept circling back to Holden. The way he had stood beside her in the studio, his voic

zed on the ta

me you're n

aking a sip of wi

lly, I'm drinkin

need a d

you have o

use,

No work talk. Just you,

laugh, the tension in h

er:

chair, letting the cool night air wrap around her. Holden Mercer had always been unfinish