Velvet Shadows

o the office like

nd her sleek ponytail swayed with every stride. She was elegance wrapped in steel. But inside, her mind

of his car, the way Jace didn't

re than the smirk

off guard. That'

for her coffee when she saw it: a small en

n

ndwri

...

open

wo words written in an e

re we

aw it the sleek little card just

aused halfwa

able," sh

ili." That voice again

esperate for a thank you, I'm surp

at me. You, Heaven, are more...

le, again. Dark navy suit. Tie loosened like he didn't have time for

irritating

e kne

p here," she said, placing the gi

y I was he

row. "Then wha

me," he replied without missing a bea

m flattered. Your ego must be

"My ego's on a stric

said coolly, turnin

pped away not before tossing over his shoulder

asies," she shot bac

ike that,

wly, fingers pausi

*

g, it was n

emerald chairs, across from her favorite

"This project needs brains, confidence, and the kind of friction th

you're saying we'r

ook. "I'm saying d

legs. "And what, ex

ervice for our international clients. We want seamless integration between marketing and finance to c

rough the folder.

running it. I've already cleared your schedules. You'll have a private offi

ally tapping a pen against his thigh

oga

ort

damn

qual say in executi

e." Then Laura added, dryly, "And for t

rivate, glass-walled, and slightly too small fo

top was cluttered with notes. She paced, sharp and fluid, outlining a digital strate

keep talking like that, I might actua

urning to him. "Was that

I'm dangerously attr

ny. I'm violently allergic

uc

useless remarks while I

ed toward her -

en for this because I

she said, tone clipped. "But

just close enough

ur digital funnel? It's missing a performance cost model. If we scale your p

oked a

just one, she hate

mn

. "Told you. I'm not

king, Daniels. You might accident

r between them was less ho

watching the city pulse beneath them. Ligh

asked, casually grabbing

" She didn't

s la

kno

ated. "Y

en, eyes cutt

ding my way home wi

"It's not charit

n't need th

was si

y, f

d slightly. "You reall

she said coolly. "I just pity th

ow. "And what

believes he's

, not touching her

kered in his voice

hat if

s gaze, pul

still wa