Marshall paced back and forth in his office, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. He couldn’t shake the image of Grace’s defiance from his mind—the fire in her eyes, the way she slapped him, daring to challenge his authority. No one had ever defied him like that, and it ate at him like a slow-burning fuse.
Tony stood nearby, leaning casually against the wall, watching his boss with a knowing look. He’d seen this kind of frustration in Marshall before, but never when it came to a woman. This was new territory.
“She’s so damn defiant,” Marshall muttered, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t get it. I’ve got all the power. She should be scared, compliant. But no—she fights back. Every damn time.”
Tony raised an eyebrow, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. “You’re
