The Boardroom Heat

ng sharp angles against the New York City skyline. Katie Taylor stepped out of her black town car, the

ailored navy blazer, she inhaled deeply and strode into the grand lobby of the

ected them, exposing every flaw until her opposition had no choice but to surrender. That's what had earned

had everyth

waiting for her upstairs-the man s

ruthless efficiency, sharp intelligence, and an ability to dismantle his competition with a single decision. Some

ut to face. When the doors slid open, a polished young woman with sharp eyes and a Bluetooth headset was already waiting. "Ms. Valerie," the assistant greeted crisply. "Mr. Clark is expecting

ed conference table surrounded by executives-most of them older men in sh

ression? He w

chests or flashed their wealth. No, Justin Clark was the ki

his tall, broad frame effortlessly. His piercing blue eyes met hers as she walked in, unreadable but intense e

ted, his voice smooth,

ment, silence stretched between them, but it was far from empty. It was a test. Justin studied her, his gaze flickin

"Let's get one thing straight, Ms. Valerie-I don't t

flinch. Katie merely tilted her head, a slow, knowing smile playing at her lips. "Then it's a good thing I don't deliver anythi

ou live up to y

room Batt

e clear within minutes that Justin

, could either cement Clarke Enterprises as an industry titan-or cripple them. Katie had studied every angle of the merger befo

allenged every sin

lity clauses," Justin said, his tone sh

Clarke Enterprises exposed in case of a contractual dispute. If Forte dec

lance. "And you think revising

n. "Unless, of course, you enjoy rolling the dice on billion-d

et his pen down. "Interesting. "One word. But it was the closest thing to approval she had heard from him all m

a cont

th: A Priva

amongst themselves about the heated exchange they had just witnessed

Stay a moment.

ame unreadable expression. Slowly, she set her no

he sleek conference table. "You're the first legal

beat of silence. Then, a low, almost imperceptible chuckle. "You might b

on stretching between them. A battle had

expected was the unmistakable undercurrent of challenge in Justin Clark's eyes-a storm barely restrained beneath a polished exterior. Her fingers tightened around the e

Val

last thing-why did you really take this job?". A loaded question. One she had been asked before, though not in the same manner. Not with

bt. Something in between. "We'll see about that." Katie didn't wait for another word. She walked

replaying every word, every glance, every unspoken dare. She had gone head-to-head with Justin Clark on day one. That mean

partment, the adrenaline had begun to settle, but the fire remained. Katie dropped her fo

essive performance today. Her brows lifted slightly. Only a handful of

ume I should

e came almo

ould be ready. This wa

s she took a slow

red for a long game, Mr. Justin

ber: Oh, I

lier than usual, stepping into the hushed quiet of the executive floor. The air was crisp, untouched by the usual buzz of the workday. A few assistants glanced up

neatly folded note on her desk. No send

my terri

ngers over the crisp paper. S

d instructed an assistant to deliver it to the CEO's office. Minut

gle m

Number

r, a slow, satisfied smile cu

e game