THE BORROWED LIFE

technological advancements, personnel shifts. Juniper did her best to keep up, nodding at the right

n track, and that the legal team was dealing with the internal leak. She could sense their relief as the tension in th

been at the head of the table lingered, watching her carefully. His eyes were too calcul

tly, his voice low. "Cou

th this man still watching her, scrutinizing her every move. The other

g to keep her voice steady, even

anding, yet unsettling. There was something about him-a sharpness in the way

one suddenly cold, professional. "There's someth

cle in her body going on hig

y... hesitate. You're usually sharp. Precise. And today..." He let the

d to think fast. There

othly, forcing a small smile. "I suppose I'm jus

g her every word. There was an uncomfortable silence that stretched between them.

know, Selene, it's that this company relies on its leaders to be unwave

she was drowning in the sea of Selene Voss's life. This woman's power, her reputat

said, her voice tight.

, just watching her with a look of qui

eep it t

footsteps purposeful. But as his hand rested on the do

voice laced with an unspoken

heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't realized she was holding her br

as tha

ess of her surroundings. The boardroom, the sleek furniture, the bright lighting-all of it

way people spoke to her. The way she moved through

at if

imply had to adapt? The thought made her stomach churn. She had no idea who this woman was,

want to be

ffled back to her office, the reality of

was

no going

her. A stack of files, a few reports, and a brightly-colored sticky no

umber quickly, her fingers still tremb

ice before a shar

ay

. "Rayne? This is

was immediately laced with concern, a s

e felt. "I just wanted to touch base on the status of the

her end of the line before Rayne

uss the next steps. The situation's..

e was something in Rayne's tone, something that sen

the conversation in her chest. There was somethin

erself falter now. Not

ng the first one-nothing she understood. Her mind raced as she tried to keep hers

door interrupte

she cal

d. "Ms. Voss, the car is

r throat. The meeting with Rayne. The woman who

houlders and move

e, Juniper. Just