The hum of the city outside filtered faintly through the floor-to-ceiling windows of CrossCorp, a constant reminder of the world Bella had stepped into. It was bigger, faster, and colder than anything she had ever known. Yet, inside, the office carried a tension she couldn’t ignore, an undercurrent that made her pulse race every time she passed Damien’s office.
She had just finished updating a presentation, fingers flying over the keyboard, when a soft knock on the glass panel of Damien’s door made her jump. He didn’t often summon her here without reason, and every moment he did felt like a test she wasn’t sure she could pass.
“Come in,” his deep voice rumbled, almost velvety but edged with that unmistakable danger that always made her stomach flip.
Bella stepped inside cautiously, clut
