“Fair enough.” I take a sip of my drink, keeping my expression controlled. “We’re confident in what we bring to the table.”
“Hmm.” Charles watches me for a beat. “That’s what we need. Monarch’s next phase is aggressive. Expansion, new markets, heavier investment in security. We can’t afford partners who hesitate.”
“We don’t hesitate,” I say smoothly. “Which is why our proposal lays out a scalable structure that can move at Monarch’s speed without bottlenecks.”
Charles gives a slow, approving smile. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.”
As the conversation shifts to industry talk, I let my attention lapse for half a second, just long enough for my eyes to land on Violet.
Austen, seated a few spots down, is watching. Suspicious. He’s seen me in high-stakes meetings before negotiating multi-million-dollar deals with barely a change in expression. So he knows I’m preoccupied. And he’s right.
Because every time my gaze drifts to the far end of the room where Violet is seated, a ridiculous grin threatens to break out.
She’s deep in conversation with a junior analyst from Monarch—Ben something. Dark curls, glasses, looks like he’d rather be buried in spreadsheets than here. I clench my jaw. It’s irrational, but I don’t like how at ease she looks with him.
She senses my stare, her gaze flicking to mine.
I school my features, but it’s too late—the damn grin is already tugging at my lips.
From a few seats down, Elliot scowls at me before speaking up. “What the hell is that?”
I glance at him. “What?”
“That.” He waves a hand vaguely at my face. “Are you... smiling? Like actually smiling? Should I call an ambulance?”
I roll my eyes and look away—straight into Austen’s beady eyes, glinting with amusement. Christ. Rarely do I feel cornered.
Violet lifts a brow at me, a subtle warning. Then, as if she can’t help herself, the corner of her mouth twitches.
By the time dinner winds down and people start filtering out, I find myself in the side hall of the lodge, dimly lit and quiet, trying to sneak a moment with Violet when she returns from the bathroom. She walks toward me, eyes darting down the corridor like she’s checking the coast is clear, then fixes me with a look like I’ve lost my damn mind.
I grin. Can’t help it.
“Stop smiling at me like that,” she murmurs, hushed but firm.
“Like what?”
Her gaze skips over my face, frustration warring with something else. “Like you’ve got some big, stupid secret.”
I smirk. “Maybe I do.”
She exhales sharply, her head tilting back against the wall, her lashes dropping for half a second. “People will know.”
“Know what, Violet?” I lower my voice. “That I plan to fuck you for the rest of the night.”
Her eyes narrow, but there’s no denying the spark of excitement.
I step even closer just to watch her breath hitch. I want to touch her so badly.
Dinner might’ve been necessary for the deal.
But this—this is the only part of the night I actually wanted.
She gnaws her bottom lip, worry swirling in his eyes. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”
And theresheis again, the girl who’s terrified of me, or more accurately, in the idea ofus.I back off, aware I need to dial it down. I’m coming on too strong, and she’s losing her nerve.
“No, Violet,” I say, my tone softening. “It’s definitely not a bad idea. Look, I’ll stop smiling. I’ll stop fucking breathing if that will make you happy.” My mouth twitches with amusement, but I try my hardest to look serious. She studies me for a beat before breaking into a beautiful smile that makes my heart gallop.
