He was right there.
Six inches. Maybe less. Declan Pierce's tall frame filled the entire doorway, his shadow swallowing Sloane whole before she even had time to breathe.
Her heart didn't just stop — it dropped, straight through the floor, all forty-two stories down to the Chicago pavement.
Move. Step aside. You are staff. This is normal. This is—
Kai stepped forward and pulled the conference room door open. The motion broke the spell just enough for Sloane to stumble sideways, but it was already too late — Declan was moving, and his shoulder brushed past her as he entered the room, close enough that the heat off his body grazed her arm like a lit match.
The air in his wake hit her face like a wave.
Breathe.
"Inside," Kai said quietly, without looking at her.
Right. She was supposed
