Sadie’s POV
The morning light filtered through the blinds, cutting sharp lines across my desk and illuminating the neat stack of folders I had yet to tackle. I sat there, pen in hand, staring at the first spreadsheet as if it could offer answers to the turmoil inside me. But the numbers blurred. My mind was elsewhere. On him. On Liam.
I hated that I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Every glance, every touch, every subtle brush from the last two galas had lodged in my mind like a permanent echo. And yet, I had to remain professional. I had to maintain composure. I had to play the role perfectly. Because failing to do so could jeopardize everything.
Everything.
I thought of my sister lying in her hospital bed, her face pale but determined, insisting she would get better. My responsibili
