Anissa st epped out of the en-suite bathroom, the steam clingingto her skin She was wearing a simple, silk slip dress, the dark emerald fabric cool against her body. Water dripped from the ends of her dark hair onto her bare shoulders.
Harding was standing by the floor-to-ceilingwindows, his back to her. He was on the phone his voice a low, commanding rumble as he finalized the details of a multi-billion-dollar acquisition inthe Asian market. The city lights glittered below himiike a fallen constellation
She moved quietly toward the bed, trying not to disturb him but the faint rustle of silk made himturn. He ended the call without a goodbye.
His gaze fell on her, and for a fraction of a second, it lingered on the curve of her collarbone, the droplets of water tracing paths down her skin His throat moved as he swallowed, a small, almost imperc eptible ‘motion. Then his eyes flicked away, his professional mask snappingback into place.
He gestured toward a plush armchair, A neatly folded set of gray cashmere loungewear was sitting on it. "You should put those on, he ‘said, his voice a little rougherthan usual. “You'll catch a cold.”
She sensed a flicker of something in his tone-a tension, a restraint-but she dismissed it as his natural austerity. He was a man who prized control
She slipped on the soft pants and long-sleeved top. They were warm and impossibly comfortable . She walked to the bed and slid under the cool, highthread-count sheets, acutely aware of the vast, empty space beside her.
The room was a lands cape of unspokenrules and invisibleboundaries. Harding switched off the main lights, leaving only a single, warm lamp glowing on his nightstand. He fay down on his side of the bed, the mattress barely dippingunder his weight He was perfectly still, his body held ina rigidline, a clear foot of empty space s eparating them. Anissaturned onto her side, facing away from him The silence was thick, charged.
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< Chapters #5 +120 Points at most “Thank you, she whisperedinto the darkness.
She felt him shift slightly. ‘For what?" his voice was a low murmur, ‘seeming to come from right beside her ear.
She turned her head, her cheek pressinginto the soft pillow. She could just make out the sharp silhouette of his profile against the city glow. *For the phonecall today. For... givingme the space to handle thingsmy own way. With my family *
He was silent for a long moment. Then, she felt the duvet shift. He reached across the divide and gently pulled the blanket up, tucking it securely around her shoulder. His fingers brushed the nape of her neck, atouch so light it was like an electric current
“It's part of the agreement," he said, his voice softer now. “Your safety Your peace of mind. There's no pressure here, Anissa. Take all the time you need.”
Her heart did a strange, stuttering beat. To be treated with such quiet consideration, such profoundrespect... it was a foreign language. Connor had only ever demanded. Her family had only ever taken. This gentle givingwas unnerving and yet, de eply calming.
She closed her eyes, inhaling the faint, clean scent of cedarwood that clungto him to the sheets, to the very air inthe room. It was the scent of safety.
For the first time in years, she didn't have a single nightmare
She woke to the soft morninglight, feeling warm and de eply rested She stretched languidly, her hand brushingagainst somethingsolid and warm. Her eyes flew open.
Sometime during the night she had crossed the invisibleline. She was curled on her side, her back pressed against Harding'schest. His arm was draped loosely around her waist, his large hand resting on her hip. His breathingwas slow and even, de ep in sle ep.
Heat flooded her cheeks. She was mortified. She tried to inch away, to slip out of his hold without wakinghim
It was too late.
His breathingpattem changed He slowly openedhiseyes. For a moment, as he looked down at her nestled against him his expression was unguarded soft with a warmth she had never seen before. Then, just as quickly, the mask of cool control slammed back down.
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< Chư) 8 +120 Points at most He immediately released her and sat up, runninga hand through his already perfect hair “My apologies he said, hisvoice thick and raspy with sle ep. Tm not used to... sharinga bed." "No, it was me," she said quickly, sitting up and pulling the duvet to her chin 1 must have... | move around a lot * They looked at each other, a silent, awkward moment hangingin the air. It wasn't just awkward. It was charged with a new, sweet intimacy. A polite knockat the bedroom door broke the spell Sif?” It was Eleanor. "Your seven clock meeting is confirmed. And Madam, your stylist will be here at nine” Harding swung his legs out of bed and walked toward the massive closet. When he emerged a few minutes later, he was once again the untouchable emperor of Wall Street, dressed ina flawless bespokesuit He walked to her side of the bed. She was stil sitting there, her mind r eplaying the feeling of wakingup in his arms. He stopped, looking down at her. A small, almost imperc eptible smile touched his ips. “There are some people arrivingthis moming’ he said. ‘People I trust with my life. They're your team now. Your shield * "Who are they?” she asked, her curiosity piqued He simply reached out and gently brusheda stray strand of hair from her forehead. The casual, affectionate gesture sent another jolt throughher. “You'll see," he said, and then he turned and left, the soft click of the door closing behind him echoingin the silent room. She was left alone in the massive bed, the warmth of his touch still tinglingon her skin. $7 Congratulations! You've won : - š Claim Now 30 minutes of free reading time!
< Marrying My Exs Powerful Bilonaire Unde #* 4190 Points at most Anissa stood in the center of Harding's vast, book lined study. She had changed into a sharp, white power suit, the tailored lines givingher an armor of confidence she was only just beginningo feel Harding stood beside her. In front of them were three individuals who radiated an aura of quiet, lethal competence. “Anissa’ Harding said, his voice formal. ‘This is Alex Stone, head of my personal security. Jax Valer, our head of cybersecurity. And Dr, Julian Alcott, my private physician” He paused, his gaze swe epingover the three of them before settling on her, 'They are the three most critical pillars of my life. From this moment on, their primary loyalty Isto you." Alex Stone, the man who had blocked Connor at the tower, st epped forward. He presented her with a sleek, heavy black phone This is a military-grade encrypted device, Mrs. Snow. It cannot be tracked or hacked. My personal numberis the only one programmed into it. Youcall, day or night and we will be there. You want a car, a jet, or a small army, you need only ask * Next, Jax Valer, a man who looked more like a rock star than a tech genius with his dark, intense eyes and casual attire, handed her a slim tablet. "This givesyou full administrative access to all your personal and newly acquired assets, liquid and fixed. It also contains a backdoor key to the entire Snow Industries internal network You can see anything track anyone. You are now the ghostin the machine” Finally, Dr. Alcott, a kindfaced man in his fifties, offered her a simple, elegant black card. ‘This is a lifetime membershipto The Sanctuary, the most exclusive and advanced private medical network in the world. Your health is our paramount concern. A team is on standby for you, anywhere onthe globe, 24/7. Anissatook the items one by one. The phonewas heavy, the tablet cool, the card smooth. They were not just objects. They were keys. They were weapons. They were the tangible proof of a trust so absolute it staggered her. This wasn't a contract anymore. This was an abdication of power, a willing transfer 00% 0924 NI EE —————]
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