Page 63 of Hate Notes

"Professional boundaries," I repeated. "Is that what you call sending me emails telling me to touch myself?"

Color rose in his cheeks. "That was a mistake."

The word hit like a punch to the gut. "Right. A mistake. Like letting me meet your friends? Like showing me your cat? Like making me think maybe you actually—" I cut myself off, horrified to feel more tears threatening.

"Maybe I actually what?" he asked quietly.

"Nothing. You're right. Let's just keep things professional. Focus on the Davenport deal and forget any of this happened. You’re not the only one who can shut off their emotions like a fucking robot. Just watch how well I can do it, too."

"Ember—"

"No," I said, proud of how steady my voice came out. "You don't get toEmberme in that soft voice after accusing me of... of what? Seducing you for corporate espionage?"

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "You're right. That was unfair. But there's clearly something you're not telling me about Cole."

"And there's clearly something you're not telling me about Davenport," I shot back. The words were the first time I had fully admitted it to myself, but I had sensed it a few times already. Orion, Roman, Moira, and even Julian seemed to know something about the Davenport deal they weren’t letting on. Knowing Orion, it was something I wouldn’t want to hear. "So maybe we're both keeping secrets. Maybe that's why this is such a bad idea."

His jaw clenched. "Maybe it is."

"Fine."

"Fine."

We stared at each other across his desk, the air crackling with hurt and want and things we couldn't say.

"Is that all, Mr. Foster?" I asked finally.

"Yes, Miss Hartwell. That will be all."

I walked out of his office with my head high, waiting until I reached the bathroom to let out a shaky breath.

This was better, I told myself. Better to keep things professional. Better not to want things I couldn't have. Better not to fall any harder for a man who would hate me when he learned the truth.

But if that was true, why did it feel like my heart was breaking?

Through the bathroom mirror, I caught my reflection. Flushed cheeks, bright eyes, looking nothing like the polished perfection of Jessica or the cold professionalism Orion clearly preferred.

"Get it together," I whispered to my reflection. "It was never going to work anyway."

29

EMBER

"He's driving everyone insane," Kora said, stirring her coffee with unnecessary vigor. "Cole's got the whole office working overtime on this Davenport thing. It's all he talks about."

Kora’s usually put-together exterior showed some signs of the strain she was under. She hadn’t even put on eye-shadow or curled her hair, which was pretty much equivalent to me walking out of the apartment in my pajamas and no make up.

We were at our usual coffee spot, the one far enough from both offices that we wouldn't run into anyone we knew. I picked at my muffin, trying not to look as guilty as I felt. After last night's dinner with Colton and the subsequent disaster this morning, my head was spinning.

"Is it that bad over there at Northman Group?" I asked, more to keep the conversation going than anything else.

"Worse. Yesterday he threw a stapler at someone for suggesting the factory redesigns weren't 'heritage-focused' enough." She leaned forward. "Em, what exactly did you tell him? He's actinglike this contract is going to make or break the entire company. I looked into the factories. They're big and all, but it's hardly that different than our usual clients. So what gives?"

I thought about how Orion had tensed when I mentioned something feeling off about the Davenport deal the other day. I thought about how quickly he'd shut down any discussion about it. "Honestly? I'm starting to think there's more to this deal than anyone's telling me. Orion gets weird whenever I ask too many questions about it. And if Cole's this desperate to win it..."

"Speaking of Cole," Kora said carefully. "He's been asking about you. A lot. It's getting weird."

My stomach churned. "Weird how?"

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