The building loomed ahead like a silver monolith—sleek, expensive, unapologetically powerful. Just like him.
I adjusted my blazer, took a breath I didn’t quite believe in, and stepped into the lobby of Black & Ryker Consulting. My heels echoed on the marble as I reminded myself: this is a new start. A fresh beginning. I needed this job.
The receptionist smiled too brightly. “You must be Ms. Carter! HR’s been waiting.”
I nodded, smiled, and tried not to think about how my stomach flipped at the word Black.
It couldn’t be him. It was just a name.
Right?
Wrong.
I realized the truth the moment the elevator opened on the top floor and every cell in my body screamed in recognition. His cologne hit first—rich, dark, and familiar, like bourbon and midnight. Then his voice followed, sharp as
