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Chapter 1

Drip Drip Drip

That steady sound that could’ve lulled Delaney to sleep, she was so tired

Drip Drip Drip

The sound of her lifeline as of late

She leaned against the wall and watched the coffee drip into the ceraoofy and certainly didn’t match her business persona, but she loved it too ht The coffeeShe hadn’t bothered turning on the overhead light, so the only illulow co from the hallway behind her

Here she orking late once again because soainst her for a prohtfully deserved

She lifted her hand and rubbed her eyes, exhaustion settling in This was another sixteen-hour day, the fourth one in a row, and although she didn’t have to stay this long, work this hard, she wasn’t about to let the proo to Ivan Redken

She narrowed her eyes at the coffee maker, as if that was the sole reason she was pissed But just thinking about that ance that surrounded him, the fact this was a couy, not so cocky, not so cold, Delaney iven two shits about this promotion

No, that was a lie She did care aboutup against her for this proher

Ivan Fucking Redken

As much as she hated that name, hated the man himself, she also couldn’t deny the way her heart started beating a little bit harder, or the fact she felt her nipples get stiff beneath her silk blouse Just thinking about hier but arousal, hatred but pleasure How could a man she loathed so much have this much control over her body and desires?

She pushed away from the wall and picked up the cup The warh the ceramic, the sht in the evening, three hours after everyone else had left

Delaney headed back to her office, theHoliday decorations could be seen sporadically, reds and greens, tinsel and holly hanging from the walls and doorways With Christmas just around the corner, everyone was in the holiday spirit—everyone but her