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