Burning secrets

eak to Dante f

avoiding him-but b

ross the office. Just absence, as if he'd been swall

didn't care. That i

e her phone buzzed

ver w

ght, the silenc

p thinking. She was reviewing an old merger file-something about

ke routine paperwork.

that didn

re that l

the difference. Maya blinked, then pulled up the origin

ren't t

after the deal had clo

back, stoma

a mistake. It w

d done

l like something D

n she packed her things an

ernoon finally broke. Rain lashed against t

floor, the night-shift sec

ding out a small black envel

asn't written-just her ini

trembled as

as a sin

p. 10

t of the rooftop

, even. But part of her knew-th

ed open

her coat. The rooftop was slick with rain, the c

his pockets, coat flapping around hi

u'd come," he sai

she replied, her voice

, he fa

under his eyes-he looked tired, like he hadn't slep

few days," he said. "Som

to do with the

pause. "You've

ng. A contract.

led out her phone, and held it out. D

ed. His silence

is was buried

you

But now you've

it?" sh

is gaze. "M

d. "You hav

erger team. Smart. Charming. And appa

urned. "You'r

Redirected funds through a fake consultancy fir

il n

. "You found

w I'm i

Which is why I wanted t

a second, the sky lit

aid, "it'll take both of us down. The bo

part of this," she s

said. "But

ce as rain misted t

y. "Quietly. But I need time.

im. "Why haven't y

. The charming one. I'm just the one who

ed. "This

y. "Welcome to Va

unguarded in him ton

closer. S

mingled in

d walk awa

hy

you stay..." He reached up, brushing a damp strand

ed. "I don't thi

s lingered

scared of

ably sh

ying to keep

n st

r who mov

soft at first, like a quest

er against him. She gasped as heat surged

sting, claiming. His body pres

falling open. His hands slid beneath it, along

oftly agains

ng enough for him to whi

t. She pulled

en lower. Her blouse was half-

eath c

hroat. "You don't know w

n do

ng flar

breathing hard, resting h

aid, voice low and rough,

heart t

to stop," she sa

en I'm walking away b

k, chest risin

n harder now. T

till humming from th

id finally. "But don't tr

lay in bed stari

he just st

an that, she was alive. Awake in a way she hadn't felt in

as. He didn't sugarcoat it

her th

kissed h

uched h

e still