Seriously? He declined my call again.
0
35 vouchers
I stared at the screen like it might apologize on his behalf. Spoiler: it didn’t. So there I was, files and laptop in hand, playing delivery girl to the same man who treated me like corporate lint.
But here’s the twisted part–I owed him. Or at least, my mother’s life did.
The only reason she was in a hospital bed with actual doctors instead of curled up on our living room couch, fading, was Aaron Sinclair’s checkbook. And that checkbook? Yeah, it came with a leash.
I rang Jude first. He confirmed Mr. High–and–Mighty wasn’t at Sinclair Tech. A little pressure and some guilt–tripping later, he handed me off to Aaron’s PA. She sounded young, new… and terrified of getting fired. Cute.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose Mr. Sinclair’s location. That’s confidential.”
“Okay, sweetie,” I sighed. “Let me say this slow. I have the materials he personally requested. Do you really wanna be the reason he doesn’t get them before the shareholders‘ meeting?”
That cracked her
Next thing I knew, I was in a cab headed to Sinclair HQ. Not Sinclair Tech. The fortress. The mothership. I’d only been there once— back when I worked for him–and I
And now I was showing up with no
Brilliant.
The building was all glass, steel, and
on’t even allowed past the second floor.
ID, no appointment, no clearance.
timidation. I paid the cab, squared my shoulders, and walked in like I ran the place.
Security let me through the second I dropped his name because of course his name had that kind of weight. But the real gatekeeper was sitting behind the reception desk on the boardroom floor. Perfect curls, pristine nails, and a smile that said “no” before I even spoke.
“I’m sorry, miss. No ID, no entry.”
“I have materials Mr. Sinclair needs for the shareholders meeting.”
“You’ll need to email his assistant or-”
“No. You don’t get it,” I said, my voice steady, even though my grip on the laptop case was screaming otherwise. “He needs this. His PA already knows I’m coming.”
She blinked, unfazed. “Then why didn’t she inform me?”
Of course
“Look,” I said, lowering my voice, “if he doesn’t get this, I lose my job. But you? You’ll be the one who blocked a delivery from reaching Aaron–freaking–Sinclair in the middle of a shareholders meeting. You really think your job survives that?”
Boom
She froze, lips twitching, then finally stood and walked to the heavy boardroom doo
“We’re in the middle of a shareholders meeting-” a wornan snapped.
Then came his voice. Calin Cold. Effortlessly in control.
‘s fine Give me a minute. I’ll see what this is about?
The door opened wider, and there he was
Aaron Sinclair
She knocked, cracked it open-
He looked like a damn storm–charcoal suit, black shirt, no ne. Sleeves rolled up like power was too heavy to wear neatly. His hair
1/2
11:08 AM P Pp.
Chapter 24
slightly tousled, but not messy. Aaron’s chaos was always curated.
His eyes landed on me.
“Venus?”
Even the way he said my name felt like a verdict.
35 vouchers
“You left this,” I said, stepping forward, offering the laptop and folder. “I know you don’t go into meetings without it. I tried calling but -never mind. Looks like you had everything under control.”
I tried to sound casual, but even I could hear the nervous edge in my voice.
He didn’t say anything at first. Just took them from my hands, face unreadable. Then, finally:
“Thank you.”
Two syllables. No smile. No warmth.
I should’ve turned around and left right then. But of course, he didn’t let me.
“Jane will show you to my office,” he said. “Wait for me there.”
I blinked. “What? I didn’t-”
But he was already walking back inside, door closing behind him. Just like that, I was dismissed.
Jane the receptionist with a clipboard and a grudge–gave me a look like I’d just been promoted and fired in the same breath. She gestured, and I followed.
Top floor.
His office looked like power had a designer—floor–to–ceiling windows, skyline so sharp it could slice. Everything was too neat, too sterile, too him.
I sat on the edge of the leather couch, arms folded, legs crossed, heart pounding like it had something to prove. Why did he ask me to stay? Was he going to scold me? Assert dominance again?
I looked around.
There was a decanter of whiskey in the corner. A pair of reading glasses on his desk. A framed photo–blurred, but definitely a woman with long dark hair.
His mother?
I exhaled, sull clutching the strap of my bag like it might anchor me.
Twenty minutes passed.
Then fifty.
And when that door finally opened, I was already on my feet before I even realized I’d moved,
Aaron walked in. Eyes locked on me.
