The Siren's Contract

woman was like a fortress, fortified and impenetrable. There wasn't a crack in that pristine, ironclad facade she wore, and every attempt to pu

et she never flinched, never let on that she cared. And while I should've been using every second of the day to focus on my job, I f

h a list of emails. But before I could get through the morning flood of tasks, the elevator doors slid

caught a "glimpse of her" as she walked through the lobby that morning. I cou

a wave of annoyance that this random guy, like so many others, thought he could get anywhere near Valer

ng me with a nod. "You see

ide my smirk. "Yeah,

and envy. "Lucky. She doesn't even kno

le in this building. Hell, even the ones she did k

They could spend their day pining after Valeria all they wanted; it wouldn't get them any closer.

e conference room. But as I approached the door, I heard her voi

s or what it costs. If the number

to see her in her element. This was the Valeria the world saw-the ruthless CEO,

and assessing. There was a pause, a single heartbeat where I could've sworn she w

xecutives, it was hard not to feel like there was a private energy between us. Valeria's eyes never wav

on Valeria, on the way she commanded the room with every word, every look. No one dared challenge her. Even the most seasoned executives listen

hoping for a moment alone with her. But she was already gathering he

an, keeping my tone

on unreadable. "Make it quick,

btle dismissal. But that only made me want to pus

face, quickly replaced by her usua

watching her carefully. "Are you alw

ng smile. "You misunderstand, Blake. I don

flash of emotion I usually kept buri

l and assessing. "Trust is earned.

we trade a few words here and

long moment. "If you're expecting more, th

digging. But I couldn't stop myself. "I think I'm starting to underst

ough for me to glimpse something else. Vulnerability? Doubt? But as qu

her voice barely above a whisper.

I couldn't look away. There was something about her, something magnetic and

sing lines," I replied,

et down that iron-clad guard she held up so well. B

cking. "Then I expect you to

g far more dangerous than I'd anticipated. As I watched her walk away, her words echoed in my mind. She was

at only made me