bust my balls. If I had them."
They laughed. "But you couldn't close it?"
Ed's shrewd question threw her off, but she told the truth. "No, I couldn't close it." The men waited in silence. "I want one more chance. Give me a few more days. If I can't get him to close, I'll put Tom in charge of the negotiations."
Tom raised a brow. "What about your promotion?"
She swallowed her sickness and pasted on a smile. "Getting Inferno to close is key - you all know that. If the team leader can't follow through, the others need to step up. That's fair."
A wave of silent relief seemed to pass over the table. "Deal?" she asked.
"Deal," Tom said.
They bullshitted for a while and the men left her office.
Selina walked over to the window and stared out at the Manhattan landscape. The city shimmered in a distant fog. Definitely a snowstorm coming. The sky brooded as if not able to make up its mind to spit ice or snow out on the world. Dots moved up and down the street--a mingle of cars and pedestrians all in a hurry to get somewhere.
The attack had taken a piece of her she’d never truly get back. Dante had helped heal her. But she’d learned something else in these past weeks—a truth about herself she’d hoped for but never truly believed.
Her strength.
The world was a painful place. Strangers tried to rip away pieces of an innate sense of security and happiness with no real reason or rationalization. Bad things happened to good people.
But she’d not only keep surviving, she would flourish. That fight burned inside of her, it was part of her core, and so many other survivors. Yes, Dante was a catalyst to get her through the difficult journey, but eventually, she would’ve found her own way. With therapy. With time. With the support of friends. She, and countless others, would consistently rebuild whatever was stolen.
A deep sense of peace settled over her.
Selina stared out the window, knowing she now needed to make a decision about Forrester.
The truth would cost her the deal. Was it worth it? How could she work with a known rapist on her team, even for millions of dollars and the chance of promotion? It would be like selling her soul. Then again, did it really matter? Forrester had the mark and couldn't hurt anyone else. Maybe she could salvage the deal after all and strike a bargain with him. Silence for silence.
But at what price? Her soul?
She thought about the question for a long, long time.
Chapter Nine
That evening, Selina looked around the bedroom. Candles burned and cast soft shadows against the walls, filling the air with the scent of apple and cinnamon. The cheerful yellow bedspread was eased back to reflect clean, white sheets and plump down pillows. The t-shirt and shorts had been replaced by a sheer black lace nightie that cupped her breasts and halted mid thigh.
The scene was set.
Now she only needed Dante.
Her stomach jumped with nerves. He promised he'd come tonight. Would he sense her impending seduction scene and stay away? Or did he ache for her as much as she ached for him?
Selina settled back on the pillows to wait. He'd helped to slay her demons. He'd shown her kindness, patience, and gave his heart. And she knew she'd always regret it if he left without claiming her completely.
She ached for his touch. Her orgasm last night had given her freedom, but what about him? When had he ever been able to take for himself, to allow himself to let go of his barriers and pursue only pleasure?
She wanted to give him a gift he'd always remember.
Herself.
"What are you doing?"
She rose from the pillows, startled by his harsh voice beside her. Selina stared at him hungrily, taking in his familiar black shirt, jeans, and mask. His inky eyes glittered with danger as he met her gaze, but he was unable to hide the gleam of lust from his wall of control.
"You're here," she whispered.
His lips tightened. "I told you I'd come. But only to say good-bye. You don't need me anymore, Selina. You
They laughed. "But you couldn't close it?"
Ed's shrewd question threw her off, but she told the truth. "No, I couldn't close it." The men waited in silence. "I want one more chance. Give me a few more days. If I can't get him to close, I'll put Tom in charge of the negotiations."
Tom raised a brow. "What about your promotion?"
She swallowed her sickness and pasted on a smile. "Getting Inferno to close is key - you all know that. If the team leader can't follow through, the others need to step up. That's fair."
A wave of silent relief seemed to pass over the table. "Deal?" she asked.
"Deal," Tom said.
They bullshitted for a while and the men left her office.
Selina walked over to the window and stared out at the Manhattan landscape. The city shimmered in a distant fog. Definitely a snowstorm coming. The sky brooded as if not able to make up its mind to spit ice or snow out on the world. Dots moved up and down the street--a mingle of cars and pedestrians all in a hurry to get somewhere.
The attack had taken a piece of her she’d never truly get back. Dante had helped heal her. But she’d learned something else in these past weeks—a truth about herself she’d hoped for but never truly believed.
Her strength.
The world was a painful place. Strangers tried to rip away pieces of an innate sense of security and happiness with no real reason or rationalization. Bad things happened to good people.
But she’d not only keep surviving, she would flourish. That fight burned inside of her, it was part of her core, and so many other survivors. Yes, Dante was a catalyst to get her through the difficult journey, but eventually, she would’ve found her own way. With therapy. With time. With the support of friends. She, and countless others, would consistently rebuild whatever was stolen.
A deep sense of peace settled over her.
Selina stared out the window, knowing she now needed to make a decision about Forrester.
The truth would cost her the deal. Was it worth it? How could she work with a known rapist on her team, even for millions of dollars and the chance of promotion? It would be like selling her soul. Then again, did it really matter? Forrester had the mark and couldn't hurt anyone else. Maybe she could salvage the deal after all and strike a bargain with him. Silence for silence.
But at what price? Her soul?
She thought about the question for a long, long time.
Chapter Nine
That evening, Selina looked around the bedroom. Candles burned and cast soft shadows against the walls, filling the air with the scent of apple and cinnamon. The cheerful yellow bedspread was eased back to reflect clean, white sheets and plump down pillows. The t-shirt and shorts had been replaced by a sheer black lace nightie that cupped her breasts and halted mid thigh.
The scene was set.
Now she only needed Dante.
Her stomach jumped with nerves. He promised he'd come tonight. Would he sense her impending seduction scene and stay away? Or did he ache for her as much as she ached for him?
Selina settled back on the pillows to wait. He'd helped to slay her demons. He'd shown her kindness, patience, and gave his heart. And she knew she'd always regret it if he left without claiming her completely.
She ached for his touch. Her orgasm last night had given her freedom, but what about him? When had he ever been able to take for himself, to allow himself to let go of his barriers and pursue only pleasure?
She wanted to give him a gift he'd always remember.
Herself.
"What are you doing?"
She rose from the pillows, startled by his harsh voice beside her. Selina stared at him hungrily, taking in his familiar black shirt, jeans, and mask. His inky eyes glittered with danger as he met her gaze, but he was unable to hide the gleam of lust from his wall of control.
"You're here," she whispered.
His lips tightened. "I told you I'd come. But only to say good-bye. You don't need me anymore, Selina. You
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