Anya’s POV
As the meeting continued, I couldn’t stop my mind from racing. Every time Orion looked at me, I felt that same heat in my chest, that same pull I had tried so hard to ignore. Every number in that folder suddenly seemed like a test—not just of my skills, but of how much I could endure under him.
I clenched my fists in my lap. No tears. No shame. I would survive this. I would do every task he gave me, no matter how impossible, and I would not break. Not again.
The meeting ended what felt like ages later. Everyone slowly filed out of the boardroom, their footsteps echoing in the long hallway. I let out a quiet sigh of relief, feeling my shoulders loosen a little. Finally, it was just Orion, Jamie, and me in the office. The room felt heavy with silence, the kind that makes your c
