TAMING THE ICE HEARTED CEO
the top floor felt di
ts she'd reviewed twice over. Her reflection in the mirro
in
me
spreadsheets could silence the memory of Elijah B
ying on a loop. That fleeting moment where the space between the
't do that,
plied, It j
ent. He didn't pull aw
r there. Heart po
clack of her heels echoing off polished marble. The hallway smelled faintly o
Elijah's office
as alrea
pi
cu
ucha
ing silence, but his vo
. Close
ch droppe
ly, shutting the heavy
ook up from his
same chair where he'd interviewed her, where
the air w
ic
ing, then final
-merger reports you
ghtened sli
ere acc
That's a compl
ut you flagged a line
up. "The offshore
tfolio was meant to be buried in a
ff," she said softly.
his hands in
rked here
kno
ound something our fin
if he was impres
to step on anyone
oes," he replied. "I
allowe
d, "you seem to
ilence f
e praise eas
oticed," she replie
w rose
blinke
t
id. "Sarcasm
trying t
t night, either. But things just
instantly. "That...
d. "What would y
ckly. "We were locked in
hing your face,"
fr
stopped b
around the desk, slowly,
uch people,
fortable under his i
touch
art po
dn't flinch
tch his gaze. "
s apart, the tension ti
expressio
ded.
e mome
softly, "why are yo
thing," he said. "I'
ending nothi
nothing c
epped
t. This isn't a lov
oat tig
tance between them. His voice dropped a
our focus. If that's not somethi
led, jaw t
unbeli
ed, sur
he said. "But the second someone tr
id no
nued. "But don't act like I'm the one cr
beat of
turned
ybe this isn't a love story, Elij
dn't
r she wa
t bac
irst time in
f he wanted to b
nd Rever
ntire top floo
ially. No
shifted-subtle, whispered, and j
ed with
ddenly lingered a little too long by Amara's desk. From the intern who de
were
could
of whispers, she didn't appreciate the twist in her stomach every
to focus
eduling Elijah's phone c
or dinged or footsteps pa
d seen the way Eli
overheard that m
someone wanted
was experienced. Envy d
roximity to power, clawing their way tow
lake wasn't
untou
got tha
ept
wasn't sure w
the Lio
g glass windows, watching the L.A. skyline as if
-his longtime friend and COO
of bourbon he'd snuck into the boa
look at him.
g's happening but I'm actua
be dr
l. You don't change routines unless you're r
his arms. "Get
still breathing. Still employed. Still working past midnight.
do
just
a cold look. "
this building who doesn't fli
her wor
uched h
ah f
s gri
during the outage. Half the floor noticed you were different the next da
said
voice softer now. "She'
tightly. "And variables don't be
f she's the
way from the window. "E
his glass. "So
didn't
ce, he caught himself starin
ime in years, he di
e
ed with
ous ke
ve heels and even more expensive gossip had grown increasingly
ellow assistant during lunch. "He barely notices board mem
id what most people with a
sear
ra
su
cat
ked
urprising
or. Volunteer work. Internship hist
scrolled
sa
og p
ive ye
Sky Broke Losing My B
licked
brother Tyrell Lane had been killed in an alterca
ded court case links, protest photos. It
bout the pain. She car
new how t
e article and slid it sealed in a manila fo
be
Regarding Assi
Reads t
know anythi
pping for a pitch Elijah had to giv
rterly briefs when the sealed en
fro
the label was unfam
si
of Amara'
hted pa
y note
know who's represe
't breathe
the arti
n a
rs had curled into a quiet f
of anger
omeone would weaponize
in his chair,
swirling through the buildin
ad crosse
ight've let it pass. Might've
Amara Lane h
s cha
his chair, it wasn't
s wit
onfro
ak room, pouring tea
he door b
, startled
the print
ood ra
idn't
Controlled. "Why d
think it
do
urning. "Because now
s yours," he
blin
r. "They used th
"People don't care about the t
I see this
on't know what
her for a l
the paper and placed i
o with it," he sa
chest ti
ght this wasn't a love story. Maybe you're right. But
retched be
hing in her be
t
sh
tr
irst time
ssed, A Ba
the building was q
in v
in e
ail waiting in her inbox. It was from E
n the CEO's boardroo
. B
her lip gloss before she was se
ts. No aide
a fo
other with
ly, holding up the file she'd so gleefull
ped. "I well
personal life, printing out her private grief, and dropping
opened. Th
Not yelling. But
round up. I've fired people for less than what you pulled yesterday.
idn'
pped. "And now you'll liv
a termination lett
tely. Security wil
e page in horror
pany does not tolerate per
ining from her face. "You're prot
cause she earned it,"
erm
hear about it
hispers Mira, dismissed. No notice. Just gone. People s
er desk, a soft post-it wa
sharp, neat
ndl
at it for a
olding it, and tucking it i
t N
e was qui
e had g
t for
ffice, sleeves rolled, tie
w. "You never walk
red the
The moment it closed behind them, sile
to fire her," A
, I
was s
You don't touch
s eyes. "T
answer i
h
aid, Amara. I pro
nked. "
wered. "Don'
m n
ending you don'
ator doo
underground parking le
r. Not touching.
she could feel his pre
," he said slowly, "t
se thudded
cross it," s
t what if you already d
st lik
issed
so
un
the tension that had simmered for four da
inding her waist, mouth claimin
led apart, breath
n't mean I
s her jaw. "Good. Trust
neath the hunge
the most honest