Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air conditioning in Ridley\u2019s office was fierce. Goosebumps rose on my arms the moment I stepped inside. I stood a good thirty feet from his desk, not wanting to get too close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley released his grip on his Mont Blanc pen and looked up. His piercing gaze took in my casual attire\u2013dark jeans and a simple cream blouse\u2013a stark contrast to my usual professional wardrobe. I felt exposed somehow, vulnerable without my armor of tailored blazers and\u00a0<\/p>\n
structured dresses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His lips pressed into a tight line. \u201cWhy are you standing so far away? Afraid I\u2019ll bite?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. Wasn\u2019t that exactly what I was afraid of? This man was unpredictable, operating by rules I couldn\u2019t begin to comprehend. He consistently knocked me off\u2013balance, and I was simply no match for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI spent the day at Navy Pier with my-\u201d I caught myself before mentioning Oliver. \u201cI\u2019m a bit sweaty from walking around all day. I thought I\u2019d spare you the discomfort.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His dark eyes studied me with amusement. \u201cAren\u2019t you a bit old for amusement parks, Ms. Wright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there an age limit on fun I wasn\u2019t aware of?\u201d The words slipped out before I could stop them. I quickly redirected, \u201cAbout the issues\u00a0<\/p>\n
you mentioned\u2013how serious is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome see for yourself.\u201d He tossed a folder onto the edge of his desk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Great. So much for maintaining a safe distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked forward and picked up the folder, flipping it open to scan its contents. The design department had been rushing to prepare for the upcoming Lake Shore Drive showcase in less than two weeks. In their haste, they\u2019d mismatched client specifications with room renderings, and several key material sourcing details were incomplete. A small error on paper, but one that could derail multiple high-\u00a0<\/p>\n
profile projects and damage our reputation with Chicago\u2019s elite design community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is serious,\u201d I admitted, my expression sobering. \u201cI\u2019ll correct these tonight and ensure it doesn\u2019t impact the event timeline.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need these client profiles now. You\u2019ll work here.\u201d He gestured to a side desk near his own.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I froze. Work in his office? At night? Just the two of us?\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mouth curled into a cold smile. \u201cDon\u2019t flatter yourself, Ms. Wright. You\u2019re hardly my type.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The insult stung more than it should have. I clutched the folder tighter, swallowing my retort. He was my boss, after all. My very\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 67\u00a0<\/p>\n
intimidating, impossible\u2013to\u2013please boss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I settled at the desk and began cross\u2013referencing the client specifications with our design plans. This was fundamental design coordination work, typically handled by junior designers and then reviewed by project leads before reaching me. I hadn\u2019t had time to\u00a0<\/p>\n
check this particular portfolio that had been compiled late Friday. My oversight, ultimately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I worked, I felt a gaze burning into me. Looking up suddenly, I caught Ridley watching me, his expression unguarded for once. When our eyes met, something flickered across his face\u2013embarrassment? That couldn\u2019t be right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He cleared his throat. \u201cHow are the showcase preparations coming along?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instinctively straightened my posture, switching to professional mode. \u201cAll the major design elements are finalized. Next week, we\u2019ll confirm material selections with key clients. About the featured designer collaboration\u2013I was planning to discuss options with you on\u00a0<\/p>\n
Monday, but since we\u2019re here now\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I outlined my thoughts on finding a collaborator who could complement our aesthetic vision for the showcase\u2013perhaps a respected furniture artisan or an innovative textile designer whose work would elevate our interior spaces and resonate with Chicago\u2019s design\u00a0<\/p>\n
community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While I spoke, I noticed his attention wasn\u2019t on my words. His dark eyes were fixed on mine with an intensity that made me nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHave we met before?\u201d he asked abruptly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the hotel. Somewhere else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so, Mr. Sterling.\u201d My voice sounded strained even to my own ears. \u201cOur first meeting was at The Drake, when you\u2026 helped\u00a0<\/p>\n
me with that situation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Earlier.\u201d His gaze intensified. \u201cSomething about you seems familiar.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The conversation was veering into dangerous territory. I cleared my throat, trying to steer us back to business when suddenly-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWaaaah!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A child\u2019s cry echoed from the hallway, slicing through the tension in the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, did you hear that? There\u2019s a child crying outside.\u201d I was already half out of my chair, grateful for the interruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Unfinished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 67 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 The air conditioning in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30466\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}