Sophia Sullivan stood up.
She opened the folder.
A report titled "Thorned Rose" slid across the table toward Ethan Sullivan.
"Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Laurent is quite... enthusiastic," Sophia remarked, her tone laced with dry amusement.
Ethan immediately recognized the teasing in her words.
Yet something still stirred uncomfortably in his chest.
"Fine." Ethan lowered his gaze and adjusted his tie.
He tried to suppress the irritation rising within him.
His eyes scanned the document briefly.
With a quick stroke, he signed his name.
Then he turned to Olivia Laurent.
"I have business to discuss."
"My secretary will take you to the cafeteria."
The dismissal was clear.
But Olivia pretended not to understand.
"Ethan, I'm not hungry."
"We can have lunch together when you're done."
She smiled sweetly.
Then her expression dimmed.
"I just returned to the country. I don't know my way around yet."
"And I don't have many friends here..."
She sighed dramatically.
Then raised her hand as if taking an oath.
"I promise I won't disturb your work."
Olivia thought any reasonable man would agree.
Ethan only smirked coldly.
"Do you think we're close?"
He shrugged off his suit jacket.
Sprayed disinfectant over his chair.
When he looked up, his dark eyes were unreadable.
"Last warning."
"Leave."
The command was unmistakable.
Olivia's smile froze.
She snatched up her purse.
Eyes reddening.
Then stormed out in her stilettos.
Sophia ignored the tense atmosphere.
She waited patiently as Ethan stamped the document with the company seal.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Sophia reached for the file.
But Ethan stepped closer.
"Aren't you curious about our relationship?"
He'd worried Olivia might say something inappropriate.
Yet Sophia had remained utterly composed.
Even amused.
She showed no trace of curiosity.
Since that night apart.
A distance had grown between them.
"Not particularly."
Sophia's expression was indifferent.
"You wouldn't associate with someone so foolish."
It wasn't faith in Ethan.
They were simply cut from the same cloth.
The tension around Ethan eased slightly.
He spoke deliberately.
"We were betrothed as children."
"The engagement was dissolved long ago."
"We've had little contact since."
"No need for explanations, Mr. Sullivan."
"For me, there is."
Sophia sensed a new danger in him.
He closed the distance between them.
The faint scent of cedar and frost enveloped her.
Subtle yet commanding.
The office door swung open again.
"Ethan, I brought you lunch!"
Olivia barged in, holding two food containers.