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A subtle twitch crossed Julian Vance’s jaw. It was gone in a fraction of a second, but Mia’s eyes were glued to his face, catching the exact moment her answer hit its mark. Around the polished table, a quiet murmur of agreement rippled through the legal team as they hurriedly flipped to page sixteen.

"I see," Julian murmured.

He leaned back into his high-backed leather chair, his gaze darkening as he stared at her. He draped one long arm over the armrest, his fingers tapping a slow, agonizing rhythm against the wood.

"Thorough."

He didn't apologize for trying to trap her in front of her peers. He didn't even nod. He just watched her, his dark cold eyes unblinking.

For the next forty-five minutes, the meeting dragged on. Julian picked apart financial estimates with terrifying precision, questioning veteran department leads until they were visibly sweating through their shirts. But no matter who was speaking, Mia could feel his attention drifting back to her. Every time she reached for her pen or adjusted her posture, his eyes followed the movement. It was suffocating. He was testing her, silently reminding her of the furious, reckless words she had thrown in his face just hours earlier in his penthouse.

When the clock finally struck eleven, Julian stood up and buttoned his suit jacket.

"That will be all for today, gentlemen," Julian said, his deep voice cutting through the rustle of papers. "Henderson, I want those revised numbers on my desk by four."

"Of course, Mr. Vance! Right away!" Henderson scrambled, already packing his briefcase.

The executives quickly gathered their things, practically tripping over one another to get out of the room. Mia let out a long, shaky breath. She closed her binder, slid her pen into her pocket, and stood up, desperate to blend into the crowd heading for the elevators.

"Miss Willow."

Julian’s voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

Mia froze, her hand hovering over her binder. The remaining managers gave her sympathetic, nervous glances as they hurried out, leaving her completely alone in the massive room.

Julian was standing at the head of the table, his hands resting in his trouser pockets, his broad shoulders squared.

"Leave the folder," Julian said, his voice dropping into a low, quiet register that made her stomach drop. "And step into my inner office. We have private matters to discuss."

Mia's heart hammered violently against her ribs. She swallowed hard, her throat bone-dry.

Every instinct told her to turn around and run. The sheer embarrassment of last night was making her dizzy. But she couldn't refuse. Defying the new CEO on his first day meant she would be fired on the spot. Losing this job was the last thing she wanted—she couldn't afford it.

Forcing her face to remain completely blank, she left the binder on the table and followed him.

The walk to his private office was dead silent. The corridor was empty, the thick carpet muffling her heels, leaving nothing but the sound of her own breathing. Julian walked ahead of her, his posture rigid. The walk was short, but it felt like it took hours.

When they reached his office, Julian pushed the heavy glass door open.

"Come in," he said coldly, stepping inside without looking back to see if she was following.

Mia hesitated at the door. Looking at his back, a sudden rush of memories from last night hit her. The dim lighting of his penthouse. The scent of his expensive cologne. The way his hands had gripped her waist before everything turned into a disaster. The way his body was so perfect, the way he moved last night. Everything about him.

Her face burned, a deep, mortified flush creeping up her neck.

Panicking, Mia brought both hands to her cheeks, pressing hard against her skin. 

"Damn it, stop thinking about that right now". she scolded herself fiercely, forcing her hands back to her sides before crossing the threshold.

The cold air from the office AC hit her instantly. Mia exhaled, trying to steady her pulse as the heavy door clicked firmly shut behind her.

Julian didn't sit down. He stood by the massive windows overlooking the river, turning slowly to face her. His expression was completely blank, his grey eyes scanning her face with a brutal, judging coldness.

"I can see that you're capable and good at your job," Julian began, his voice flat and devoid of any warmth. "But unfortunately, this company cannot employ a whore who sells her body to strangers. It would tarnish our reputation."

The word hit Mia like a physical punch. Her breath trapped in her throat.

Whore?

The insult echoed in the quiet room. Mia clenched her fists so tightly her fingernails dug painfully into her palms, using the sting to keep herself from breaking. A hot wave of pure fury rushed through her panic. Whore? she thought, her mind screaming in outrage. You hypocritical bastard. You were right there in that room with me. You were the one who took advantage of me.

But she couldn't say that out loud. If she lost her temper, she lost everything.

Taking a slow, agonizing breath, Mia forced her chin up and met his gaze directly.

"Mr. Vance," Mia said, keeping her tone strictly formal, though her voice strained under the pressure. "What happened last night was a private, deeply unfortunate misunderstanding born from a terrible day. It was a lapse in judgment, but it has absolutely no connection to my work. I have never, and will never, compromise my integrity or the reputation of this company."

Julian didn't blink. He just crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Furthermore," Mia continued, taking a step forward, refusing to let him intimidate her. "Since I started here two years ago, my department has maintained a flawless, zero-error audit rating. I personally restructured the legacy archives, catching three major compliance issues that would have cost this company over three million dollars in regulatory fines during this acquisition. I am not a liability to your reputation, Mr. Vance. I am one of the hardest-working assets you have."

'So take your disgusting labels and go to hell'. she added silently, her eyes flashing with defiance.

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Julian didn't move. He just stared at her, studying the angry flush on her cheeks and her rigid posture. Finally, he uncrossed his arms and took a slow, deliberate step toward her.

"I've made my decision," Julian said, his deep voice cutting through the quiet room. He stopped just a few feet away, looking down at her.

"You'll..."