Corporate Love

ened with a soft hiss, to Ava Sinclair

id, her chin held high. The smell of shining stone, stale air, and ambition hits

usly not recognizing her. Good. She didn't parti

va said smoothly, extracting her bad

gaze darted upward, her tone suddenly al

light smile. "T

sympathy. "He's on the top floor. Private

rse, h

vibrated with life and activity, but always, the top floor-the CEO

rs swun

. It was odd to be there again. Odder still to know that he'

and she did not hesitate

me

t v

epped

, impeccably fitted. The loosening of his tie to suggest late nights at work. His s

e stated

t move her

ng crossed his face, and it

ed her over as if considering ma

care of the

y d

ry we have won't interfere with your job here. You wer

nd deliberate. "Understood. I do

arms. "Good. Personal is complicated

But she sat quietly instead, as t

as now a stranger. Or perh

s to clean out the mess left in place by my previous assistant. The files for

der, her hand brush

ll do

ilently as sh

ed behind her, Ava exhaled t

d this time, she

hing else on the executive level. But Ava didn't sit down. Not just yet. She leaned against the floor-

our job," she remind

printed-out, unread e-mails as though they were scriptures, deadlines that had obviously slipped by unmarked. Dominic's previous p

had before. S

ss of Dominic's presence behind that door was still felt, even in quiet. Sh

m by her of

va

d the but

0 a.m. is coming

ht a

heels clicking as she moved to stand at his

're h

looking away from his

ight, kissed her senseless in an elevator. This wasn't the

about. That man was gone. So

ven dealt with a few of his pressing messages. Each click, each note, every dec

r give him any cause t

., the intercom sudd

un

t the button.

me. I assum

tone of condescension-

replied calmly. "Where

ion anything

oment of comp

in. He already had a tray arranged on the small confe

nal?" she queried, raisi

unch,"

locked over

ela

ieter this time,

stirred just behind her facade-regret, perhaps. L

giving him her soft, sharp smile. "

slightly

gaze l

years, Ava wasn't exactly

ngering of his gaze. Dominic Hale was no longer just cold; he was calculated. Even his movements now felt calculated, every em

aps. Regret, at b

er train of thoughts. S

phone, "Mr. Hale would like to see yo

ver as

Waiting there were three men and one woman, senior executives. She recognized

nic stated curtly,

er watch. "By t

s eyes narrowed. "Don'

attempting to shift her off-center. She smiled se

, "the merger requires a complete restructuring plan within next week's

uiet. One of the senior men-a VP

's n

nterrupted, never flinching.

looks with seasoned aplomb. Let them underestimate me

inic. By its conclusion, Ava's scribbles were tight and brutal. As others

that fine," h

here to im

tched. "You

room was colder, as though a cloud

his back turned. "They do not desire someone

ody li

as previously

aking low. "I'm not here

d together. He

ctricity in the s

ad held high, hot blood moving in her veins. She w

ed her email inbox. Scores of incom

ed her s

et Dominic play whatever game h

'd