Beneath the city lights

ling hardest when Elena Car

rellas and impatient commuters. A gust of wind yanked at her coat, and the drizzle finally claime

at the tim

a

line. The lobby was all steel and glass, sleek and intimidating - a sharp contrast to the cozy Brooklyn office she use

lly not

ptionist asked, barely l

a 9AM with

Forty-fifth floo

ust an independent event planner with a few weddings and two brand launches under her

ls looked calmer than she felt - bold red lipstick, simple black dress,

oors

d tones, floor-to-ceiling windows, and fresh o

smooth. Deeper than she remembered

tu

like a man who was born to own the world - tall, broad, and dangerous in that quiet, collected way. His dark e

coming on such sho

oing on," she replied befo

small, almost-smile. "

tfolio. "Mr. Maddox, your assistant s

. "A benefit gala. Three weeks from now. We

o plan it?" she as

d

lanner type," she said. "You could

ne who knows how to create somet

y m

ment. Because you built your own company from nothing. Because you're not afraid to piss off powerful men

. "You did yo

once. "I a

lder. "Alright. L

d her - not like a man trying to impress her, but like a man who wa

e woul

is right, this gig co

sn't careful,