Lizetta and Remington stepped into a small sitting room, and before she could even close the door, he turned and wrapped her tightly in his arms.


    He held her so firmly that Lizetta, still reaching for the doorknob, was startled and nearly lost her bnce. She hurried to shut the door behind them, her heart pounding.


    "Let go someone might see us!" she hissed.


    "So what if they do? It''s not a crime to hug my future wife," Remington murmured against her shoulder, his voice low and teasing.


    Just outside the ss wall, people bustled back and forth. Lizetta could clearly see little Mia craning her neck, eyes wide, trying to get a better look inside.


    Flustered, Lizetta tried to pry Remington''s arms from her waist. "Remington!" she protested.


    He finally released her, straightening up with a reluctant sigh and stepping back to give her space.


    Turning to face him, Lizetta was about to invite him to sit down when she caught the searching, slightly anxious look in his eyes.


    "Are you mad at me?" he asked, his voice careful.


    She pointed to the sofa. "No, I''m not. But you need to behave yourself. This isn''t the time or ce-keep your hands to yourself, or I really will get angry."


    But Remington stayed put, clearly unsatisfied. "That''s not what I meant. I''m talking about those rumors the videos and photos circting online, all that garbage people are saying..."


    He''d nearly smashed everything on his desk out of sheer frustration over what he''d seen, so he couldn''t imagine how Lizetta must have felt.


    "I''ve already asked Cedric to look into it," Remington continued, his tone protective. "It''s spreading way too fast to be an ident. Once we find out who''s behind it, I promise they won''t get away with it."


    He leaned forward, his intense gaze fixed on her. Lizetta blinked in surprise. “Oh, that? No, I''m not angry about it."


    Remington didn''t believe her for a


    second. How could she not be


    upset? He himself was


    furious nearly out of his mind There was no way she wasn''t angry; she was just pretending, trying to keep her distance and shut him out.


    A flicker of panic crossed Remington''s handsome face, hiszplexion paling. "Liz, you are angry I know you are! Yell at me, hit me do whatever you want just don''t ignore me, please?"


    He''d only just started to feel like he was making progress with her, inching a little closer. If he was pushed away again, he wasn''t sure he could handle it.


    Before Lizetta could respond, Remington closed the gap between them and pulled her into another fierce embrace.


    He held her as if only by pressing her close to his heart could he steady himself, as if letting go might send her drifting out of reach forever.


    Caught in his arms, Lizetta blinked, a touch exasperated. “Remington, could you—"


    "No! See? You are mad at me!" he interrupted, tightening his hold as if it could keep her from slipping away.


    Lizetta just wanted to reassure him, to exin that she truly wasn''t upset, but Remington seemed stuck in a loop, convinced she was angry and refusing to let her get a word in.


    Feeling the tension running through him, Lizetta''s expression softened with reluctant affection. She lifted her arms and gently hugged him back.


    She had just opened her mouth to speak when the door suddenly burst open.


    "Lizetta, about the annual meeting-"


    It was Logan, with Mia at his side,


    2 both clutching folders. The moment they saw the scene, Lizetta shoved Remington away, but his arms were still looked around her. Before either of them could react, the dood mmed shut again with a resounding bang.


    From the other side, Logan''s startled voice echoed back into the room. "Oh-sorry!


    Didn''t mean to interrupt. Carry on!"