Emma Carter had handled impossible clients, outmaneuvered corporate sharks, and built a career in an industry that had tried to shut her out at every turn.
But nothing—not even the most ruthless boardroom negotiations—had prepared her for the torture of working with Alex Kingston.
It had only been two days since their forced partnership was announced, and Emma already wanted to strangle him.
"This proposal," she said, gripping her pen tightly as she sat in her office, "requires a strategy-driven approach. We need to focus on long-term scalability, not just immediate profit."
Alex, sprawled in the chair across from her desk like he owned the place, smirked. "You mean your strategy-driven approach?"
Emma inhaled sharply. "My approach happens to be the one that got Carter & Associates this far."
Alex's green eyes gleamed with amusement. "And Kingston Enterprises didn't get where it is by playing it safe."
Emma barely resisted the urge to throw something at him. "You're suggesting an aggressive expansion model that could alienate stakeholders."
Alex shrugged. "Or it could triple the investment."
Emma folded her arms, refusing to break eye contact. "And if it fails? You'll just cut your losses while my firm takes the fall?"
Alex's smirk didn't fade, but something sharper flickered beneath it. "You think I'd let something I'm involved in fail?"
Emma leaned forward, her hazel eyes burning. "I think you don't care about anything unless it benefits you."
A charged silence stretched between them.
Rachel, Emma's assistant, cleared her throat awkwardly from the doorway. "Uh… coffee?"
Emma forced herself to lean back, exhaling slowly. "Black. No sugar."
Alex smirked. "Same."
Rachel shot them both a please don't kill each other look before disappearing.
Emma turned back to Alex, reigning in her frustration. "Fine. Let's find a middle ground."
Alex chuckled. "You sure you know how to do that?"
Emma glared. "I swear, Kingston, if you weren't a crucial part of this deal, I'd—"
"What?" Alex leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly. "Fire me?"
Emma's pulse jumped, but she didn't let it show. She refused to let him get under her skin.
Instead, she grabbed a red pen and slashed through his proposal notes. "We're reworking this from the ground up."
Alex laughed, unbothered. "God, I love a challenge."
Emma wasn't sure whether to feel satisfaction or dread.
One thing was certain—this was only the beginning.