Tangled Heart

r didn't be

tion, and strong black coffee that burned like fuel in her veins. She believed i

ike static as the elevator climbed t

e. Glass walls. Power humming in the silence. Every

ors. She was dressed in navy armor, a blazer fitted to perfection and a pencil skirt th

n Bla

yline. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, forearms flexing as he flipped through documents.

old and clipped as the Manhattan w

replied, voice steady despite t

"Time is relative when you'r

nce is cons

rise, maybe amusement, flashed across his face. "Yo

lways

ssing prey. Ivy didn't flinch. Not even when he circled her,

t be easy,"

hot back. "I

mn if it didn't l

icial meeting s

offed, scanning her proposal

ngs," Ivy said. "Spring. El

want impact. Unique, Not a garden party." Somet

nt planner to make b

stir her breath. "Surprise me, Ms

Ivy's mouth, but she held her

guments sparked over font choices, floral palettes, and seating ch

," Adrian declared one afternoo

ated elegance

anger, no

taste, n

er. And somewhere between the tension

ces in the event hall. White orchids. Gold runn

loomed be

king late,"

"You said deadlines

le, close enough to touch.

at as a co

means I'll

eat, the office, the company

, feeling the heat

ere to play game

oftly, voice barely above

y playing something

t sparked in every glance, every clipped s

ught Ivy's hand as she

ietly, "don't tak

id, though her he

, "I don't let anyone cl

e," she replied, surpr

ched into a ghost o

when his mask slipped, a flicker of vulnerability that ma

er breath caught when he leaned in too close. The way his eyes soften

maybe, fate had

r a canyon. Ivy learned to expect the unexpected: a compliment buried in sarcasm, a sharp look soften

ick with vendor contracts and design proposals. The elevator was almost empty, and the soft hum

lly against the marble wall, eyes fixed on his phone. Hi

" he said, wit

stepping past him confidentl

flutter. Then he cleared his throat and said

er. "I have everyth

that made her wonder if he was skimming or actually readin

ith every supplier in the city. These are the best pr

plier who offers lu

him to be impossible. "I'm trying

upward in a rare smir

y. For a moment, the office felt smaller, as if it were just the two of

oser, "why are you here? Planning

brush off the question with a joke, but s

e something," she said quietly.

hat's

than the mistak

unreadable. He looked away, voice low. "We all have s

was running from, but she held back. Som

ing over floral arrangements, seating plans, and lighting options. Adrian's consta

te orchids along a sleek marble

he admitted, a rare note

I knew you'd

d low and genuine. "D

shifted. For a heartbeat, th

k, clearing his throat.

heart pounding in a way

's phone buzzed with

the rooftop

e the city stretched out in a glittering sea of lights below. The air

e, hands in his pockets,

Ivy said, step

, he said quietly, "I'm sorry if I've

Why would you

t your boss. I'm the guy who's been testing you every step

caught. "What

ion. Somet

thing, after how we started

"I don't expect you to believe it.

s reflecting in their eyes. The wor

hat if this wasn't just a battle? What if it was th