Page 44 of Kentrell

Mars sipped her wine like she had popcorn in her lap. “So what now?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered, still staring at the screen. “I didn’t expect him to move like this.”

“You don’t attract basic. You attract bold. Always have.”

Before I could respond, the door to my office swung open.

Kendra Price.

“Zoe,” she said curtly, stepping in like she owned the floor. “I wanted to ask you about the new client. The one I saw in your office earlier.”

I froze.

Shit.

How much had she seen?

Did she see the kiss?

Had she gone back to her desk and already started whispering to the others about me? My stomach flipped as I forced my expression neutral.

“Client?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “You mean Mr. Caldwell?”

Kendra gave a tight smile. “Yes. That one.”

My grip on the desk tightened slightly. Mars didn’t move, but I could feel her shift, watching the interaction unfold with the careful eye of a lioness waiting to pounce.

Kendra’s brows lifted just slightly, a flicker of amusement in her gaze.

But she didn’t say anything about the kiss.

Relief hit me like a gust of wind, but it didn’t last long.

“More importantly,” Mars cut in, setting her glass down, “why’d you come barging in here like this was your space?”

Kendra’s eyes slid toward Mars like she was scraping something off her shoe.

“Hello, Marniece.”

Mars’s eyes narrowed.

“I forgot how...availableyou like to be around the office,” Kendra said sweetly. “Nice to see you’re still upholding your reputation.”

“Oh, honey, don’t confuse access with availability,” Mars shot back smoothly, a dangerous smile blooming. “You walk in like that again, you’re going to find out the difference between the two real fast.”

“Kendra,” I cut in sharply, voice cool, trying to regain control of the moment. “Is there something you need besides my appointment schedule?”

Before she could respond, another knock tapped against the open door. This one was softer. Intentional.

Darius Anderson stood just outside the frame, dressed in his usual three-piece perfection. Calm, controlled, and always three steps ahead.

“Ladies,” he greeted, voice smooth as ever as he stepped into the room. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all,” I said, straightening. I automatically adjusted the lapel of my jacket.

“Zoe,” he said, his eyes sweeping over me in that casual, fatherly way he’d always carried—though it wasn’t something I ever thought twice about. “You look incredible today. That color was made for you.”

My lips parted to thank him, but my mind tripped back to Mr. Caldwell’s voice, low and smug as he accused me of wearing this exact outfit for him. I had denied it, of course. Brushed it off. But now, even standing under Darius’s approving gaze, I couldn’t escape the truth.

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