Power Lines

colder when

d in April. But something about stepping back into the glass tower of Vos

Here, they were once again CEO and aide. Masks b

nswered emails and taken calls, his tone clipped an

whispered laughter and shared beds, not

office, thin

ardroom by ten a.m. Noah had barely dropped his bag in his office

noon," she said. "He trusts you

a sharp smil

ff without a

ward Ethan's office. The door w

chest t

hanged a look since

w it has to be,

e he could keep d

emerged from his office in his usual all-black suit, sleev

ntil they almost col

ah said, st

around. The hallway was empty.

Noah replied

his face. "Toni

ust long enough f

xhaled. "Are we

id firmly. "Ju

me from where

ere for a sec

ack. "Come over anyw

nce. "I'll th

before he could

hink about it

partment in SoHo, jacket clutched in one hand, nerves

tor opened, Et

dn't

d aside to

omething woodsy. Sleek lines. Cool surfac

lence until Noah

e pl

e before," Ethan

indows, staring out at the city glitt

d behind him

rned. "

ace softe

"Then why did you

n't me

't even l

ond I do, I want to forget about all of it. The ru

pped h

s met his.

"Touch you. Be

y don'

close to me like this, it ended in a si

"You're talkin

I promised myse

'm not

kno

ing me for someth

like he'd b

you. Never used you. I've chosen you. And

said, hoarse.

show

d out and pu

Like they weren't running anymore, jus

rested his forehead again

s goi

ning felt al

ears-coffee brewing, toast popping, Ethan grumbling abo

like a man

dn't want t

t. Just enough distance to avoid suspicion. But as soon

ere watc

make it obvious. Conversations stopp

ce and closed the d

s phone

s good leaving your apartmen

blood r

e, reread it, and then

damage w

one

suspect

r was closed, but through the glass, he c

ed to w

Ethan's office. He knocked once

"Yes, tell legal to prep the full NDA br

raised an eyebrow

r behind him. "We

slowly. "Wha

phone, screen still

ce. Then again.

k it's real?

. "And I think I

ngf

circling since the summ

e in d

we mov

staring out. "I can get ahea

d. "Do I go down wi

rply. "I'd never

it co

aid. "I'll ta

hat's not how this works.

m the one with power. If this gets out, the

not a

for the first time in years, I a

breath

won't let them ruin what we've bui

anything

won

n't sure he

e one he'd had at the summit-when he thought

ing had

oon, Noah receive

Nice try. Secrets don

at it for

rwarded it

considered what it would me

truth c

him the job he'd fo

ed him more: losing the

thing wa

was no lo

clock wa