BeautifulSinclair’s POVHer lips were soft. Warm. And for a second, I didn’t even move because my brain short-circuited at the fact that April was actually kissing me.Then instinct — or maybe something a little more dangerous — kicked in. My hand slid up the small of her back, pulling her just slightly closer as I kissed her back. Not rushed, not sloppy, just enough pressure to feel the way her breath caught against my mouth.She tasted faintly like the whiskey we’d been drinking — sweet and sharp at the same time — and something about that mix had me feeling like I was on the edge of doing something I’d regret.Emphasis on the something I would regret.It wasn’t a long kiss, but it felt like it was. My mind went quiet in that dangerous way, where every bad idea suddenly felt like the only idea worth having.I pulled back just enough to breathe, my voice low. “April… I’m married.”Her eyes were slightly glassy from the alcohol, but her smirk was perfectly clear. “It's a contract mar

Sinclair's POVThe rotors thudded above our heads, chopping the air into ragged pieces. The city looked like molten gold from up here—Avalon glittering in the distance, the rivers lit with streetlamps, glass towers catching the sunset. Hale Corp’s rooftop helipad came into view, the logo blazing like a target.I didn't bother putting on the headset. April was seated across from me pretending to to scroll through her phone. It's what she's been doing since we left Zurich and I let her. Just to avoid things getting real awkward.The skids hit the pad with a hiss of compressed air. The instant the blades slowed, the rooftop burst to life—rows of Hale employees, security, and the core exec team waiting for us. The air was still thick with the smell of jet fuel and victory.They clapped loudly, everyone grinning widely.April blinked, a little taken aback, but I stepped out first, giving them the kind of smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. Hands were thrust toward me—pats on the back, nods,

Sinclair’s POVThe conference room’s glass walls reflected nothing but sharp suits and sharper smiles. Hale Corp’s directors sat in their neat little row, papers spread in front of them, pens poised like they were ready to carve into flesh instead of budgets.The contract from Zurich sat at the center of the table in neat print, acting as an unspoken trophy.I leaned back in my chair, letting them have their turn to bask in it. They needed this as proof that giving me the CEO’s seat hadn’t been a mistake.“Projected revenue for the next fiscal year is up forty-three percent,” the CFO droned, flicking through slides on the screen. “That figure accounts for operational overhead and the integration costs of the LM Group account.”There were the obligatory murmurs of approval. The ones who hadn’t backed me in the beginning kept their eyes down; the ones who had were already calculating how to ride this win for their own gain.“That’s impressive work, Sinclair,” one of the older directors