The Love We Left Behind

ly slept

ian's words-every mistake w

d of con

reprimands. Julian wasn't the kind of man who did things the ordinary way. H

e had all

at his

fused to let

surviv

vived losin

survive

arrived at Cross Grou

her to fail, she wouldn't

when Rose walked in, her sharp br

u haven't slept,"

mall smile. "Fir

her brow. "It's

anded Rose a tablet. "Mr. Copper's schedule for today. He has ba

ch twisted.

e's testing you. See

urse

ned her should

look that was almost

tners. The conference room was sleek, the long glass table surrounded by h

t beside him, rea

ep voice cut through the r

nd him watching her

us agreement with Mor

breath

last night, but there were pages of

g her to recite

es in the room tur

panic and fail, or r

g an exclusive partnership in software development," she began. "The deal included a 20% inves

ink. "And the ne

uested higher profit margins, but Cross Group countered wit

ce fo

laugh. "Impressive, Mr. Copper. I didn't

didn't change. "She'

tle w

d to let it

otted down key points, noting Julian's precise way of handling nego

mesme

rustr

d to be-the one who used to tal

an was

e exhaustion creeping i

next meeting, then the next

afternoon that the re

Julian called f

nside, her he

k, flipping through a fil

ned. "Of cours

e report on Cross Group's top three competitors. I want t

have it ready by

witched. "I nee

h dropped.

ir, watching her like a p

obl

ted her t

aid smoothly. "Y

go, but his voi

d Miss

urned

disappo

hreat wrap

choice but to m

hering data, analyzing report

s pa

her eyes burned from staring at

nted to b

ldn't l

dnight when she

eviewed it one last time,

eaned back in her chair, closi

i

ptop c

w em

Jul

isted as she c

Fix it. I want it

t the screen

ood e

curled i

ing this

i

battle, she wou

fice the next morning, she was running

ort on his desk, standing

flipping through the

retched in

osed the folde

r," he

f. Instead, she felt anger

't about

about c

aking h

how much longer

thing wa

only the

n's office was t

She had spent the entire night fixing the report he claimed wasn't "good enough." Now, she w

he had all the time in the world. The sound of paper turning was t

dn't f

efuse

d set it aside. His eyes lifte

r," he

t t

the effort she had put in. Just a simple state

ls dug int

ian wasn't the man she once knew.

Mr. Cross?" she ask

head slightly, h

ed, dismissing her

els and left the offi

only the

o her desk, Victoria was wa

d," Victoria

ed to die," Rose shot back

irst assistant who couldn't handle the p

d. "Yeah, I

oment. "I'm curious. Why did

s tightened a

n she couldn't ans

I needed a challeng

seem convinced b

. "The challenge continues. You need to prepa

lder without hes

r a long look be

s gone, Rose let

this company would be w

Ju

waiting for

he wo

coul

om where the marketing team was already seated. She

ectant. She had spent the past hour going over t

uld do

's briefing will cover the updated strategies for Cross Group's latest

ng it concise yet informative. Despite he

as done, the team

or executives commented. "You

politely.

s, relieved that the

d and saw Julian stand

art sk

had he be

ut something in his eyes told he

ed him to criticize her,

mply said, "Yo

sharp retort on her to

s gaze on her bac

d in a blur of emails, re

g down, Rose was gathering her th

eaving yet,"

wned. "W

event tonight. A business g

nked. "E

That includes accompanying him to functions when

este

stomach

s up to s

d a calm nod. "F

mething appropriate," Victo

out a slo

ing wit

sn't ju

s anoth

no choice bu

the event venue, a luxurious bal

yet professional. Nothing too revealing, no

he felt

he spotted Julian

ves, his suit tailored to perfection, h

her presence

eyes

moment, the

an's lips as he excused him

e greeted smooth

he replied, ma

ed over her. "Yo

to let his wo

was a test of appeara

und deep and rich. "Eve

eath h

like they weren't in

s jus

old t

e times

nd, Julian extended a

hesit

this was

t stepping into a gam

meant showi

breath, she plac

sed around hers

e floor, the music slowed,

ed against her ear. "You m

art po

deep down

tly what she