The Vosstech Tower loomed above the skyline like a titan, its glass exterior gleaming in the morning sun. Stephanie stood before it, her reflection staring back at her—chin high, eyes bright, lips painted in a defiant red. She inhaled deeply, gripping the strap of her tote.
You belong here.
Still, her heart hadn't stopped racing since that kiss. That kiss Nathan hadn't mentioned again. That kiss he'd walked away from like it hadn't even mattered. But it had. God, it had.
She forced her thoughts into order and stepped into the lobby. The atmosphere buzzed with sleek professionalism—heels clicking against polished floors, voices murmuring in glass-walled offices, the scent of espresso and ambition hanging in the air.
"Miss Quinn?" A voice cut through her thoughts. A young assistant approached with a tablet. "Mr. Voss is expecting you on the 40th floor."
Stephanie's pulse quickened at his name. "Thank you."
The elevator climbed in silence, each floor marked with a chime that sounded like a countdown to uncertainty. When the doors opened, she stepped into a wide, open space filled with clean lines, dark furniture, and panoramic windows that framed the city like a living painting.
She walked into the bullpen—where her new desk sat near the executive wing. Eyes trailed after her. Some curious. Some calculating.
And one pair, cold and venomous.
Nora.
The woman leaned against a glass panel near the boardroom, arms folded across a blazer as sharp as her tongue. Her lips curved upward, but her eyes gleamed with territorial rage.
"Well," Nora drawled, walking toward Stephanie. "They finally let you in. I hope you remembered this isn't an art gallery. People here actually work."
Stephanie smiled sweetly. "Oh, don't worry. I'm already miles ahead. That must sting."
Nora's nostrils flared, but before she could retort, Samson—the new Head of Security—strode into the room, his eyes scanning the area before giving Stephanie a polite nod.
"Miss Quinn. Welcome to Vosstech. You'll be debriefed this afternoon for clearance."
Stephanie nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Samson."
As he left, Nora leaned in and hissed, "You may have Nathan's attention, but don't forget who signs your reports. I'll make sure you don't last a month."
Stephanie stepped closer, her voice calm but edged. "Then you'd better make every minute count. Because I'm not going anywhere."
In his glass office above them, Nathan stood with his hands in his pockets, watching the scene play out below. He didn't miss Nora's aggression or Stephanie's unwavering stare.
She doesn't flinch, he thought. Not even when surrounded by wolves.
It made staying away that much harder.
The memory of her lips still haunted him. That kiss—unexpected, intense, and dangerous. He hadn't planned to lean in. Hadn't planned to feel. But when she gave him the go-ahead, when her eyes fluttered closed and her breath caught—he'd surrendered.
And yet the guilt still clawed at him.
She didn't know the truth. That her father had saved him all those years ago. That the man who raised her was the reason Nathan had lived while his own family had perished in flames.
He clenched his fists.
You can't fall for her. Not now. Not ever.
Later that morning, as Stephanie adjusted to her new workspace, Damien walked in like he owned the air itself. Sharp suit. Sharper smirk.
"Look who finally joined the tower," he said, placing a coffee on her desk uninvited. "Caramel macchiato. No sugar. Just like you."
Stephanie blinked in surprise. "You memorized my coffee order?"
He grinned. "Among other things."
A few heads turned. Eyes watched.
She leaned forward. "Damien, I appreciate the coffee, but maybe don't flirt with me in front of an office full of sharks."
He chuckled. "Let them bite. I'll bite back."
"You're impossible."
"You didn't say no."
She didn't respond. Mostly because part of her mind was elsewhere—on the man in the glass office who still hadn't acknowledged the kiss that had left her reeling.
By noon, the entire floor had shifted to the conference wing. The final signing ceremony between Vosstech and Stephanie's firm was underway. Journalists waited outside. Cameras. Press kits. Big money.
Nora was livid.
She'd tried to force herself into the representative seat, but Nathan had been clear. "Either Stephanie Quinn represents the company—or there is no deal."
Stephanie sat opposite him now, looking radiant in a deep blue blouse and tailored pants, her hair swept back. Calm. Collected. Smoldering beneath the surface.
Nora stood to the side, a clipboard in hand, trying not to fume.
Nathan's gaze met Stephanie's. "Let's begin."
The signing commenced. Flashbulbs clicked. Papers were passed. And Stephanie's firm secured the largest deal of the quarter—with her as the lead.
As the room cleared out, Nathan approached her alone.
"You handled yourself well," he murmured, voice low. "Despite the sabotage."
Stephanie arched a brow. "You saw that?"
"I see everything."
A pause stretched between them.
"You're pretending it didn't happen," she said suddenly.
He looked at her. "What?"
"The kiss," she said, voice soft but sharp. "You haven't said a word about it. You kissed me like I meant something. Then you walked away."
His jaw tightened. "Stephanie—"
"Don't," she said quickly. "I'm not asking for anything. I just… I don't understand how you can pretend like it didn't affect you."
Nathan stepped closer. Too close. The scent of him hit her like a tide—cedarwood and steel. His voice was a whisper, loaded with tension.
"You think I'm unaffected? I can barely breathe when you're near."
Her breath caught.
"But some truths," he added bitterly, "are more dangerous than feelings."
Before she could ask what that meant, the door opened—and Nora entered with a fake smile. "Oh, am I interrupting something?"
Nathan straightened. "Meeting's over."
Nora turned to Stephanie, her words sweet like poison. "Congratulations, darling. You've won this round. But just remember—spotlights burn fast."
Stephanie stared her down. "And snakes always shed skin when cornered."
Nathan fought a smirk and gestured toward the door. "You should leave now, Nora."
"I work here."
"Not on this floor."
Her lips thinned before she stormed out.
Stephanie spent the rest of the day pretending everything was normal, but inside, she was a whirlwind. Damien's sudden attention. Nora's growing hostility. Nathan's tortured distance.
And the worst part?
Despite the kiss. Despite everything. He still wouldn't let himself get close.