Ink And Temptation

– Late Nig

a charged current in the air. She had spent most of the day replaying Greg Hartman's words, his smirk, the way his

e looked up only briefly, offering a small, playful smirk before returning to his work.

ervous flutter in her chest. "Good morning, Mr. Hartm

ched under the cluttered desk. "Structure, huh? That's

s, and arguing over pacing. Greg's charm surfaced intermittently - teasing comments, sly sm

re entrenched in a heated

t of nowhere," Debbie said firmly. "It needs

intense. "I think they will. Sometimes, the u

cted doesn't mean unearned. There's a diffe

vous smile. "You sound like a s

se she wasn't ready to admit. "I'm not here to enterta

is overrated. But I suppose... you might be

scripts, became a cocoon of tension and anticipation. Greg suggested they continue into the night - dea

with the scratch of pen on paper and the click of keyboard keys. Slowly, the

rushed, sending an electric jolt through her arm. She glanced up at him, heart hammering, only to find

." she began, bu

of his mouth lifted in that signature smirk, the on

ne, and something unspoken. Debbie realized she hadn't eaten or moved in hours. Her bo

quietly, not looking up from his laptop. "Professi

"Flattery won't save you f

own her spine. "No, I don't suppose it will. But m

hat she found herself wanting to lean into the tension rather than resist it. And yet, she also hated

to the floor. Greg's eyes narrowed, instantly alert, and he stood, moving toward

papers, trying to calm her racing hear

nced at Debbie, raising one brow. "Probably a manuscript from another cli

Greg took it, Debbie noticed a handwritten no

get away with rew

in a way that made Debbie's stomach twist. He handed t

not part of Greg's manuscript - but a rough outline of an article that seemed... threat

publisher," Debbie said, her

early knows enough about me to try and intimidate m

ried a pulse of danger. Their professional stakes were real, but suddenly, so were the risks - external th

. Whoever this is... they're not just trying to

ike this is more than just a book rewrite. Look

licker of fear behind the confident smirk. And she realized with an uneasy jolt

was brief, but electric. Both of them hesitated, aware that the tensio

ll deal with this. Together. But..." He looked at her, and for the f

it was from the adrenaline, the attraction, or th

ension in the room. Greg didn't offer her a seat. He simply said, "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we fin

mmering, and glanced at him. "Caref

g smile. "Carefully isn't mine. Bu

the image of his intense gaze, the brush of thei

poken words and unseen threats. She realized that with Greg Hartman, nothing was ever simple - not the manuscrip

the study. She froze, heart racing. Whoever had sent the note