After long hours of searching and reading contract clauses, and after reviewing more than 80 contracts to spot any slipped-in errors—after analyzing discrepancies and making the necessary corrections, Kyle and Vivienne finally withdrew, exhausted.
"Good luck; see you tomorrow," Vivienne's voice called out, followed by the sound of the door closing.
"I'm heading out too, sir," Kyle said in a defeated tone, throwing his jacket over his shoulder.Aiden nodded at Kyle, then resumed reviewing another contract, while Tatum quietly went over all the errors she'd written down on a separate sheet, settling more comfortably on the couch with a yawn.
"You should probably go home, Miss Joy," he said in a nearly whispered voice. "You need to be back here tomorrow, you know?"
He was exhausted. His tie was loose, his shirt was wrinkled, and he wasn't even wearing his watch anymore. Indeed, it had been a long, full day for everyone—but especially for him. The fact that things had reached this point troubled him greatly, and he couldn't understand where he was finding the strength to go on.
Magnus Schulz was a man who seemed methodical and utterly determined to get what he wanted—but what exactly did he want? The son of Pierre Schulz, Magnus had been trained from a young age to take over the family business, so it was no surprise that he now served as the successor of the law firm Schulz and Associates. But, unlike his father—who didn't bother to hide his stone-hearted nature—Magnus wasn't afraid to openly reveal his true intentions. He was a man driven by power and prestige, willing to do anything to climb the hierarchy and secure his place at the top.
That was why he'd set his sights on Aiden Black and his law firm. In recent years, amid numerous news reports, press conferences, and public appearances, Aiden's firm had gained considerable traction among clients—so much so that it had risen to be one of the most respected law firms in both America and Europe. This international expansion cast Aiden and his lawyers in a very favourable light, making them seen as the best, right after "Elite Law Group."
A sigh slipped from Aiden's lips as he glanced at the woman who'd stayed behind with him when she didn't respond. His eyebrows rose in surprise at the silence. It felt strange not to be met with one of her snarky replies or mocking remarks—was that a good thing? His gaze followed the slow movements of her chest as she breathed, her face covered with papers. Had she fallen asleep?
Aiden slowly got up from the chair where he'd sat for nearly six hours without moving much and made his way over to the couch, rubbing his tired eye. As he approached Tatum, he lifted the stack of papers covering her hand and stopped in mid-sentence, observing.
She'd fallen asleep.
Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was soft, light, even comforting. She'd drifted off, with a few stray strands of hair tousled across her obviously tired face. He leaned forward, resting his weight on his knees, and moved his hand gently toward her face. She was beautiful, damn it! Her skin was smooth, and her nose was perfectly symmetrical with her face—which was rare to find in a woman.
Tatum was achingly beautiful. Deep down, Aiden felt a mix of excitement and perhaps a bit of embarrassment at his boldness. He brushed his fingers gently across her face, tucking the stray strands of hair behind her ear.
Their faces were very close, and he only realized how close when her green eyes opened, locking onto his.