Everything We Never Said

mornings that b

ticular morning had giv

eam blazer for the third time. Her black trousers were neatly pressed, her heels poli

man who knew exactly

ly didn't f

nder

ed with, and slapped in public, she had chos

ed her ey

aya. Absolute

rated on the

me you haven't can

ked up t

m gettin

he love of everything holy, kee

ed at the

ou're h

oked like he was planning your f

rself, May

peared almost as q

ecipher after she slapped him. He hadn't shouted or threatened to have her arrested. He

d discovere

o his office and ask him

her phone i

't going

t going t

et one terrible decision destroy ev

a compan

s what

ogistics, she had rehearsed at least six d

st was

d was pro

t made her feel as though she wer

ther sounded desperate or ended with her telling Alexa

the thir

r

et arrangement of white flowers on the front desk. Employees moved between offices

the strap of

spect a well

s owner weren't such

may I help you?" th

Clark. I have an appoi

nist checked

is expecting you. His assist

ctin

nothing to set

set of dark wooden doors while a man in a

s Cl

tu

es

's executive assistant

opened

tepped

. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, while dark shelves and carefully arranged documents

behind it, rea

look up im

a few feet

e considered turning around a

nder raise

s Cl

ooth, his expres

Bla

re on

ry t

refre

ed her lip

ward the chair

it

e

regarded her with the sort of attention that made her feel as t

," he said, "I h

ightened

rig

in the car, or did you prepar

mach ti

sor

back in his chair. "I assu

tared

he would s

d

l. Let's

haled

information, made assumptions about a situation I didn't understand, and allowed my emoti

er said

wai

ued looki

taring at me?" she asked be

very polis

nk y

nded re

wasn

atural talent for

tened around the ha

e it

her carefully con

e. I didn't realize I w

ugh, given last night's behaviour, I suppose you m

ared a

ared

ent, neit

anced at the docu

iscuss why

eas

s. Your port-access agreement is at risk, and several outst

tention s

onversation sh

company's records, and how much comes from wha

expression b

fect the accuracy o

s information you've decided to col

may be able to help yours. I would consider it irresponsible to

l position is one thing. Investi

personal life the sub

t y

narrowed

ted the ur

hadn't lost

r opened

lier relationships could be valuable to us. However, your current financ

iness carr

business ca

first sting

ulties are

e t

es

g obligations su

restruc

what c

hesi

der no

act

fted he

e our businesses have an existing commercial relationship, and I believe

istic ass

ctical

ot always th

pessimism and

s pen stop

tely regrett

ue, but because she had promised her

her hands

ould focus on

ps we

a page in

new shipping arrangements and lookin

's co

ur port access would give you enoug

nts without disrupting our shipments. That would improve our

r projections

d on our curre

icient to cover your o

ating additio

aren't revenue

now

yo

ed at him

set down

e company you're asking me to work with. So far, you've given me ass

ce gre

ve a

explai

ned her

sed

s that had not yet been finalized. She had expected to present the figure

interpret her hesi

a company comes with challenges. But sen

inside h

erit

. You assumed control, and now you're attempting to manage t

I woke up one morning and d

no suc

dn't ha

r's gaze

w she sh

her emotions to interfer

her father had built. Some questioned her age. Others questioned her decisions. A few had ope

nversations because she had no intent

ile Alexander Blaze reduced her ef

know which suppliers have extended their deadlines and which ones are waiting for payments. I know which shipments cann

r remain

ts people whose livelihoods depend on this c

ice ha

but the frustr

hough I inherited a company, sat behind a desk,

t suggest

nutes questioning whether I'm cap

at I need to establish befor

hs proving that I am capable, even wh

hung bet

ad entered his office, Alexand

eart was

hands, forcing hersel

done i

er temper to get

der

ely won

ore quietly this time. "

er stud

e agree on

look

tion had changed. He was no longer simply looking at her a

n't ap

ish enough to mi

n't dismis

I don't care whether you inherited the company or built it yourself. I care wheth

t's

If you can't, I won't put my company at risk sim

owed her f

erst

oo

ed the

uss what you can

tes were considerab

tracts, its shipping routes, its supplier relationsh

ions were

infuriatin

s were secure, which negotiations were ongoing, and where she belie

immediately available, she sai

ppreciate that more tha

e leaned back

ctions are

e achie

least two of the contr

es

your opera

ntified areas wher

me the revi

wil

wn of your outstanding obligations

dding the requests to h

access extensi

porary extension, subject to the financia

ickly that she had to resist t

't a gu

as an op

you," s

yet. Nothing has

derst

greed upon. I won't make exceptions because you're st

er wou

lifted

nderstand

hered he

more than she had walked into the building with, and she

from he

laze. I'll send the requested d

r remain

s Cl

pa

es

more

e w

, I expect you to exercise better judg

ightened arou

d that I mad

yo

oked a

ed you. I understand that I made a judgment without knowi

convinced you were

hesit

ss, I shouldn't automatically assume they're r

sn't my

e answer

ed at her for

he

ficult woman,

difficult ma

you're o

you're c

moment, his exp

t quite

to investigat

ough questionable decis

ay, Mr.

ay, Mis

ing her pace steady even though

ched the handle when

Miss

tu

ike someone, make sure you c

eld hi

's competence, make sure you've given

ent, neit

pened the d

r, Maya released a breath she felt she had

ad su

secured an opportunity for

escue. Alexander had made no promi

was som

omething was bet

lready planning how she would orga

one vi

ell? Are

d the eleva

tunately fo

ied almost

d the busi

he elevator do

ng forward with

MAYA! YO

miled

ate yet. He hasn't

et thrown out, arrested, or

ad as she stepped

ve Serena for convincing her

o

was u

decisions. She would

Maya glanced at her refle

ed compo

re, she was already prep

r Blaze was righ

great deal

ntended t

remained standing beside his

still

his cheek, nor had her business presentation changed his o

d entirely too comfortable chal

in her projections. When she didn't know something, she admitted it. When he challenge

perienced in

under

arly as unprepared

to his desk and p

nie

s,

it arrives. I want a proper assessment of the comp

ourse

ective. If the numbers support a

erst

r ended

the chair Maya

y's cooperation, yet somehow managed to leave wit

r he respected that o

aps

the memory of the slap seemed to ling

e woman," h

returned

to keep at a distance, and a past h

o waste thinking

at