The first camera flash went off before I even stepped fully out of the car.
For half a second, I thought it was lightning.
Then the shouting started.
"Mr. Thorne! Is the promotion personal?"
"Are you involved with your employee?"
"Miss Vale! Did you sign an NDA?"
The world dissolved into white light and noise.
I froze.
Julian did not.
His hand closed firmly around my elbow—not rough, not possessive, but steady. Grounding. He guided me forward through the chaos toward the building entrance as security moved to contain the press.
I had known this might happen.
I just hadn't understood how violent public curiosity could feel.
Inside the lobby, the doors sealed shut behind us, cutting off the shouting like someone had slammed a lid on boiling water. My pulse was still racing.
"Tha
