Page 51 of Hate Notes

"Maybe. But I also understand letting people get close is a chaos of its own. Employees who fear me are predictable pieces of the puzzle. I know how they're going to act in a given situation."

Ember frowned. "But what if the most perfect version of your company isn't perfectly ordered? What if the best Foster Real Estate is a little crazy and unpredictable? What if that one employee coming out of their shell in an important meeting makes a client see us as more human?"

I couldn't help smiling. "You never fail to surprise me, Miss Hartwell."

She licked her lips, reminding me how soft and supple they were as she stood in my oversized jacket. Her eyes seemed impossibly large as she looked up at me with the lights of the city twinklingin them against the darkness. "But you don't like surprises," she breathed. "Surprises are unpredictable. They're a form of chaos, right?"

"Maybe you're teaching me the benefits of a little chaos.Of the occasional surprise," I added in a lower, softer voice.

I wasn't sure which one of us stepped closer, but she was suddenly close enough that I could feel how cold she was. I instinctively reached inside the jacket to wrap my arms around her and hold her close. I knew there was a chance somebody from inside might see us, but I wasn't sure I cared.

"We should really get you inside," I said, rubbing my hand in a circle on her lower back to provide some more warmth.

"I like it right here," she said, face pressed against my chest.

I did, too. I could have held her like this for hours, but I couldn't let her get any colder. "Ember..." I started, not sure what I was going to say.

"Will you send me one of those emails tonight?" she asked quietly. "Because I'd really like you to."

My whole body went white hot with arousal at her words. "I will. Yes." I held back a thousand questions I wanted to ask. Where did she touch herself when I emailed her? What did she wear? Did she use toys? Did she... ever moan my name?

"Orion..." she said softly. "I keep thinking about how your mom said you've been trying to take care of everybody since you were a kid. And the thing I come back to is how tragic that is." She slid her arms around me and squeezed me tighter, pressing her face into my chest. "Everybody deserves to be taken care ofsometimes. But if you’re always taking care of everybody else, do you ever stop to let someone take care of you?"

The question hit harder than it should have. Before I could answer, the terrace doors opened and Roman stuck his head out. Ember and I reflexively took a huge step back from each other.

"Sir?" Roman said, eyes darting between us with a knowing sparkle. He paused a meaningful moment, then continued. "The donors are ready for your speech."

I nodded, straightening my tie. Inside, I could see the crowd gathering, could feel the weight of their expectations. This was who I was supposed to be—the composed, controlled CEO. Not someone who got distracted by warm eyes and gentle questions.

"Miss Hartwell," I said seriously.

"Mr. Foster," she said, mirroring my tone but flashing a flirtatious hint of a smile. She slipped off my jacket and handed it back, her fingers brushing mine. The contact sent electricity through my whole body.

As I walked to the podium, I couldn't help glancing back at her. She stood at the edge of the crowd, still hugging herself slightly against the chill from outside. Our eyes met, and I saw something like regret flash across her face.

I could still smell the faint scent of her perfume on my lapels and hear that question echoing in my mind.

Do you ever stop to let someone take care of you?

The answer, of course, was no one. That was how it had to be.

Wasn't it?

24

EMBER

My phone buzzed for the third time as I fumbled with my apartment key. I already knew who it was—Cole had been trying to reach me since I left the gala.

"Not tonight," I muttered, finally getting my door open. I kicked off my heels and collapsed onto my couch, still wearing my emerald dress.

Catman slinked into view, yawned, and then sat to study me. I could feel the judgment radiating off his wrinkly little body.

"I know," I told him. "I'm in trouble."

The kind of trouble that came from letting your boss hold you on a moonlit terrace while you wore his jacket. The kind that came from keeping secrets that could destroy everything you'd grown to care about.

The kind that came from falling for someone you absolutely shouldn't.

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