HIS COLD GAZE MY SECRET FLAME

alist sleek black chairs, a long glass table, and floor to ceiling windows that showcased

than usual. She wasn't nervous about the task itself; she was used to taking not

chin, gaze unreadable. He didn't acknowledge her presence, but his eyes flickered briefly i

rner, out of direct view but cl

sionalism. The atmosphere grew heavier with each arrival. Everyone knew that meetings ch

s voice as smooth and col

tle glance exchanged between the higher ups. The topic today was an upcoming merg

. "With all due respect, sir, the numbers from thei

find a way to turn that red flag gree

Lucia's pen paused. That's g

fferent from the rest, placed in front of Brian. It

d then, his fingers tapped against it

dn't stop lo

ves left in pairs, murmuring quietly. Lucia stood

cia.

ghtened aroun

then rose slowly from his seat. The

hen he stopped in front of her, she could feel the force of h

ent to my private email,"

plied. Her eyes flicke

ed. Of cou

o a smile, but something

roze. "

ice just enough to stir the air between them. "Curios

s breath

, then turned, heading toward the door

out turning, "don't stay in t

r closed

idn't lea

d and unsettled. The room was empty now, quiet but not peacef

ss near her office. She looked up, s

stay t

rning echoed

r laptop when she noticed something

tomach

ed anything there. Her hand tremb

st a black seal identical to the

lmost mocking her hesitation. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was wrong, that she sho

liberate motion,

k. But it wasn't the number of pages that made h

ization Unreg

ts," "highly confidential," and "legal gray areas" stood out like warning signs. The kind of

knew she had to put the folder back. She wasn't supposed to see this. But t

n't even on her radar. No one had mentioned it in the me

ts raced. What i

back to the numbers. The figures didn't add up. They didn't match an

stions. What was Brian involved in? What kind of game was

hoved the folder back beneath her tablet, hoping

one of the junior associates she'd often worked

rush of adrenaline still coursing throu

me papers from the printer. Looks like you're in the middle of something important

ocus. "It's nothing, just m

cia quickly covered it with her arm. She felt a pang of guilt. She wasn't sure w

wardness in her movement. "Well, the meeting wen

too quickly. "Yeah, as

again, his voice quieter. "I've

an eyebrow. "

a whisper. "Look, I don't know if you know this, but the higher ups are... not just about business. Brian, especially

rowned. I

as if he realized how ominous his words sounded. "I'm p

, though she wasn't sure

g wasn't just a casual remark. There was something beneath his

d ponder it any furth

message f

ce in 10 minutes. I h

r? Was he somehow aware she'd seen it? She tried

ickly made her way to his offic

ghtly open . She knocked softly, unsure of what to expec

within, sharp and commanding. She entered, t

lhouette framed by the light outside. The moment she steppe

id, his tone cold

or the sleek black folder. Her heart skipped again. It was the same one she had

unreadable. "I hope you've been keeping up

er mind still reeling from the discove