Art of Seduction

as crumbling beneath him, and he could feel the weight of failure pressing down on his chest like a lead blanket. The late

n't be happening," he muttered to himself. The once unshakable confidence that ha

f his thoughts. His assistant, Emily, stepped

aid quietly, her expression betr

acob said curtly, not b

g again. "Sir, the Johnsons are officially pulling out of the par

ing on the armrest of his chair. "That

hedule a meeting with the boa

to deal with Russell. Personally." He grabbed h

I think it might be better to approach this careful

fully? Do you think I've gotten th

left the room, the door

and dialed, his grip on the

othly after a few rings. "To

're doing. You've been sniffing around my accounts, poac

s, Jacob. If you can't keep your clients, that's on you. Besides, the J

ne tightened. "Listen t

gly calm. "Losing your temper won't solve your problems. Meet me tonight

went dead. He slammed the phone onto

through her hair. Her thoughts were miles away, tangled up in the events of the previous day

sternly, setting the brush d

s coldness, and his singular focus on his company had left a void in

ut of her thoughts. She picked it up, her heart skip

utiful. Couldn't stop think

ing over the keyboard. She knew she s

to be careful.

ply came alm

r secret is safe with me

r a moment before t

n: "O

s apartment building. He stepped out, looking effortlessly handsome in a ta

" he said, his voic

eplied, feeling a blu

ture making her smile. As they drove through the bustling stre

y from the prying eyes of the public. Russell held the door open for

aron found herself laughing at Russell's witty anecdote

ul laugh," Russell said, h

dropping to her coffee cup. "It's been a wh

his hand covering hers. "Jacob d

is, a mix of guilt and longing sw

he said softly. "To be appreciated

sarming. Sharon opened her mouth

g with low conversations and the clinking of glasses. He spotted Russell sitti

eaning back as Jacob app

m him, his expression hard. "Let's

aded question. But if you're asking about the Johnson account, well, let's

g. "You think you can waltz in and take what's

acob, I know exactly who I'm dealing with. A man who's lo

to the gut. His eyes narrowed,

Russell,"

troy me? Face it, Jacob. You're already crumbling. It's only

against the floor. "This isn't over," he

go, a satisfied smil

tic mess. The day with Russell had been intoxicating, but now, in t

, and she glance

er tomorrow? J

walking a dangerous path, but the pul

d a quic

'll think

d built with Jacob and the thrilling possibility of something new with Russel