The sound of her heels clicking on the marble floor echoed through the hall, her heart racing with a mix of confusion and frustration. He was impossible. Always pulling strings behind the scenes, always two steps ahead of her, making her feel small yet cared for in the most frustrating way possible.

The heavy mahogany doors to his office loomed ahead, guarded by two members of his private security team. She braced herself for the inevitable refusal—no one ever got past those doors uninvited. Yet, as she approached, the guards simply stepped aside, making no attempt to stop her.

Her steps faltered. “Excuse me,” she said, turning to one of them. “Why did you let me through?”

The guard kept his face impassive. “You're clear to enter, miss.”

“Clear? I didn’t... I didn’t even—” she stammered, but they remained unmoved. Baffled, she pushed the doors open.

Inside, the office was as pristine and imposing as ever, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. And there he was, sitting behind his massive desk, casually flipping through a document as if her unplanned visit had been penciled into his schedule.

“What the hell?” she burst out, slamming the door behind her. “I thought no one was allowed in your office without approval!”

Without looking up from his papers, he smirked, a knowing glint in his eyes. “You’re not just anyone, are you?”

She crossed her arms, frustration bubbling up. “Don’t start that. How did I get in here? Your security didn’t even blink when I walked up.”

Finally, he set the papers down and leaned back in his chair, watching her with the same calm, self-assured expression that drove her crazy. “I gave them your name,” he said smoothly. “And a picture.”

Her brow furrowed. “A picture?”

He nodded, a smug smile spreading across his face. “Of you. Angry.”

For a moment, she was speechless. “You… gave them a picture of me angry? Why?”

His grin widened. “So they’d recognize you when you came storming in like this.”

She opened her mouth then closed it, unsure of how to respond