"What did you just say?" she asked, her voiceced with disbelief.


    "I''ve already informed Sandra that she is no longer with the Rosenberg Group."


    The stern, serious look on his face told her he wasn''t joking.


    Hannah froze for a few seconds, forgetting even to push his hand away. After a long moment, she finally snapped back to reality, yanking his hand off her shoulder. She struggled to keep herposure, her voice turning cold and distant. "Anyone who didn''t know better would think I''m some kind of tyrant, ordering you to fire a woman just because I don''t want to work with her."


    Did he really think a gesture like this would move her? That she''d suddenly be convinced of his affection, tear up her contract with Yves, and gratefully join hispany?


    "Whatever you do is your business, Lionel, but don''t you dare drag me into it. Don''t use me as an excuse to fire people. I won''t be your viin!"


    She shot him a re so sharp it could have cut stone, then turned on her heel and walked away.


    Aplex expression flickered across Lionel''s face.


    Hannah returned to the office with her colleagues and threw herself into her work, staying busy until well after eight that evening. When she opened the door to her hotel room and saw Lionel was still there, she froze. She had assumed her earlier words would have been enough to make him leave in a rage.


    She hovered in the doorway, keeping a safe distance. He had just showered and was standing by the table in a bathrobe, his hair still damp and dripping onto his shoulders. The robe was open at the neck, revealing a chiseled torso and defined abs, with droplets of water tracing paths down his skin.


    Lionel was rubbing his hair with a towel, his movements casual. "How long until your project is finished?"


    Hannah frowned, ignoring his question.


    "I''m not leaving until you''re done," he stated tly.


    Only one thought crossed Hannah''s mind: the man was insane.


    "What about yourpany?" she asked, staring at him. "You''re just going to stay here?"


    He walked toward her and reached out to pull her inside, but she sidestepped his grasp.


    "The hallway is full of people," Lionel scoffed, turning back into the room. "If you want to make a scene, be my guest."


    Hannah nced down the corridor, saw the curious looks from other guests, and resigned herself to her fate, stepping inside with a heavy sigh. The moment the door closed, Lionel tossed the towel to her and leaned in close, his eyes narrowed as he gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.


    "I''ll stay here at night and go to the office during the day."


    Hannah was speechless. She threw the towel onto a nearby chair and turned to pack her suitcase. If he wouldn''t leave, she would.


    Watching her pack, Lionel''s expression softened. "Admitting you were wrong? Ready toe home with me?"


    A bitterugh escaped her lips. "Since you won''t leave, I will. I''m getting another room. Let go of me."


    His eyes shed with anger, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her up. Hannah Struggled against his grip but his strength was overwhelming. With a sudden, sharp movement, he yanked her into his arms, his hand mping firmly on the small of her back pressing her body tightly. against his. Pinned against him, she couldn''t move. Her cheek was pressed to his chest, and she could feel the powerful, steady beat of his heart.


    When she finally went still, Lionel loosened his hold slightly. "I came all this way to be with you, and this is how you act? When are you going to stop this nonsense?"


    "I don''t need you here! Let me go!" When she had needed him, he was never there. Now that she didn''t, he was clinging to her like a shadow. She would never understand him.


    "Grandma knows you''re in Ryth. If I didn''te with you, she''d never let me hear the end of it."


    Hannah''s eyelids fluttered shut. A wave of self-pity, helplessness, and cold disgust washed over her. She had considered every possible reason for his presence-a guilty conscience, a moment of remorse, anything—but she had never imagined this.


    "You know, Lionel," she said, her voice t and empty, "I truly despise you."


    She pressed her hands against his chest and shoved him away with all her strength. Wordlessly, she grabbed her pajamas and retreated into the bathroom. The warm water cascated over her hair and down her face, mingling with tears she couldn''t hold back. She didn''t know which was which, only that her heart ached with an unbearable pain.


    When she came out of the bathroom, Lionel was sitting at the desk with hisptop, on a conference call with his headphones in. The suitcase she had packed was open, its contents neatly put away as if nothing had happened. She dried her hair, slipped under the covers, and turned her back to him.


    Sometimeter, she felt the mattress dip beside her, a wave of heat radiating from his body. She instinctively shifted away, wanting nothing more than to keep her distance.


    Lionel noticed her movement but said nothing.


    Sleep never came. When Hannah finally opened her eyes, the space beside her was empty and cold to the touch. He must have left hours ago. She remembered his words—office by day, with her by night. She wondered just how long he could keep that up.


    A department meeting meant she didn''t have to go into the office until the afternoon, so Hannah decided to go shopping. She found a dessert shop and had just sat down to order when she spotted a familiar face at a table across the room.


    At first, she thought she was mistaken, but a second look confirmed it.


    It was Sandra.


    Across from her sat a man in a suit. He was heavyset with thinning hair, and though his back was to her, Hannah could tell he wasn''t handsome. Sandra was notoriously picky about appearances, she would often pass off cases to colleagues if the client wasn''t attractive enough. Even her friends were all stunningly beautiful.


    So what was she doing with a man who was so... average?


    Hannah''s curiosity was piqued. Luckily, they were close enough, and the man''s


    voice was loud enough, for her to overhear their conversation.