Power Lines

ay started

he skyline and dulling the city's usual energy. Noah arrived soaked despi

-again. Habit or hope, h

crisp, and his focus absolute. But Noah could tell-something about hi

said, trying t

t look up.

rain

ress sm

"I'll tell tha

the Tokyo team. I want a full breakdown

t's on your cal

Then:

m again, but not the easy k

r-Noah's words, Ethan's retreat, the

he regretted the way Ethan had looked at hi

iance audit that had everyone scrambling. By noon, the storm out

hen it h

private

p on the first

pa

p at the chan

doing here?"

her

are you-fine.

tood abruptly, g

m?" Noa

strode toward the elevator

h's chest. He waited te

fol

floor below the lobby. From behind the corner of a column, he s

om him st

ue eyes. Expensive coat. And an expressi

fore he even

d. "This is not your company anymore.

here to cause trouble. I'm in town for fo

n said flatly

th

not here. You gave up your right to

You know that w

was betrayal.

rt racing. So this is

. "I just wa

othing lef

over Ethan's should

e that, a sm

he ass

ensed.

is why your em

ed forward.

. "But he deserves to know what you're capab

he walked out

ther ten seconds. Then he turned and walked straight ba

pretended to be typing furiously

without a word and c

a long moment. Then st

response-sharpe

oor anyway. "He

d up. "You

d

ard eve

t of

his temples. "He always shows up when things

m, steady. "He's tr

di

let him ke

terly. "You think

. "I think it's

retched be

ad plans-real ones. And then he tried to sell a controlling share

ce was qui

our pick." Ethan stared at the

you d

m. "I needed us. H

hands in his pockets.

ersion of him that existed in

you don't need anyone who

ath. "You always say the

Noah replied. "You

eyes m

retreat. No joke. Just

ound the desk. He stopped just in front

don't wan

t pounded.

aracteristically so-and brushed

ood at thi

ispered. "I'm t

lips

works. It wasn

. Hesitant at fir

self want in years. And Noah kissed back l

d apart, Ethan's forehe

dangerous

replied. "But i

intly. "You're

ou lik

fyingl

-together, quiet, suspended betwee

e rain finally