e atmosphere was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the electric hum of high-end air conditioning. Vespera stood in the

ssian stood perfectly still. He had donned a charcoal three-piece suit that made him look like a statue carved from

, his voice a low vibration that barely reached her ears. "They th

hem a new beginnin

mediate jerk of his bicep, the microscopic tremor that threatened to blossom into a full-blown seizure. She leaned in closer, the warmth of her

ocus on the weight of my hand. The world is

r subsided. Together, they walked through

ing, a man whose hair was as silver as Cassian's eyes and whose heart was rumored to be twice as cold. He looked up,

in the room

ry parchment. "We weren't expecting compan

ness. She did not wait for Cassian to introduce her. She

im smoothly. "And I'm not here as a Moretti. I'm here as th

yes narrowing. "A sudden engagement, Cassian? Especially after the specta

filled the room. Vespera felt the pride in him, a solid heat that radiated through his sleeve. "The Morettis were foolis

s' eyes begin to flicker and die, replace

ee the projected quarterly earnings for Valeska Media if we acquire the Moretti shipping logistics. I've already identified three ghost vessels that the

hidden liabilities, and of a scorched-earth policy that would leave the Valeska flag flying over the Moretti docks. Every time a

hand from his arm to his shoulder, then to the back of his chair, her

ing was no longer leaning back. He was le

g said, looking at Cass

intensity. "But consider this a formal notice. Any move against Vespera is a move

t leave Cassian's body until the elevator doors closed. He leaned bac

ere shaking

his trembling hands in hers. She felt the heat of his skin, t

ispered. "They're te

h something far more complicated than a business victory. He pulled her closer, his gri

nches from hers. "It was you. Every time I felt like the

air and sandalwood, enveloped her. For a moment, the strategy and the revenge did not matter.

e engagement," Cassian wh

pera asked, her

look into her amber eyes. A dark,

ontract," he said. "But in thi

the doors opened to the lobby. The flash of a dozen

er. The war had

or's

ust a pretty face on Cassian's arm. She is the brain behind the new Valeska era

medical relief. The lines between the contract and reality are getting very blurry, very fast. And now the

vinced, or is he going to try and dig into her past? Also, I have a big question for you: do you

ghts on this power couple before we div