Part I
"In the middle of the journey of our life I found myself within a dark woods where the straight way was lost."
Dante Alighieri
Prologue
November
the beginning of the end
Colin
I’m reviewing the final details of a new client portfolio when I hear three soft knocks on the door.
Three, always three.It’s her.
As expected, she doesn’t wait for permission. The door opens, closes, and she walks in with the poise of a predator disguised as prey… confident and calculated. She’s perfected that act. I’ll give her that.
I set the papers aside, my attention shifting to her.
“Just wanted to see if you needed help with the new portfolio,” she says, her tone light. By the time the sentence ends, she’s already leaning against my desk.
“Did you?” I ask, lifting a brow.
“Yes,” she answers softly, breath catching, lips glistening.
I lean back in my chair, the leather creaking. She mistakes the gesture for an invitation and steps between my legs.
“Do you really think I’m incapable of handling a profile on my own?” I ask.
Her composure falters. “W–what? Of course not,” she stammers, then recovers quickly. “I just wanted to help. You already have so much on your plate. I’ll dowhateverI can to ease your burden.”
I allow a faint smile. The kind that tells her she’s not in trouble, not yet. She relaxes immediately. It’s almost effortless, the way she responds to approval.
“I know you will,” I murmur.
She smiles, pleased with herself. Her hands slide behind my neck as she leans closer, her breath hot against my ear.
“Are you sure we can’t meet later?” she whispers, her teeth grazing my earlobe before she soothes the bite with her tongue.
My body reacts instantly. I straighten anyway, putting clear distance between us. My gaze meets hers, cold and clear.
“You already know I can’t,” I say. “I have plans tonight.”
“Fine,” she mutters, stepping back, irritation creeping into her tone. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself this weekend.”
“We’re going for work, Maya. Don’t mistake it for something else.”
“I know, I know,” she sighs, waving it off. “But we both know it won’t bestrictlybusiness.”
I say nothing. She doesn’t need to know what I’m thinking.
“Well,” she concedes, smoothing her dress. “I’ll let you get back to it. See you at the airport tomorrow?”
I glance up once, meeting her eyes. One look heavy enough to keep her tethered. Then I nod. Once.
That’s all it takes. Her smile returns, satisfied, and she leaves my office carrying the same unshakable confidence she brought in with her.
