Emma's phone buzzed for the third time during lunch.
Daniel:Where are you?
She sipped her iced tea, deliberately slow to reply. Across the table, Jake grinned. "Trouble in paradise?"
"Just my boss being...needy."
Jake—her old college friend and now rival CEO—leaned in. "Tell him you're on a date."
Emma choked. "I'm not—"
"Relax, Em. I'm kidding." His grin faded. "Unless...there's something to tell?"
A shadow fell over their table.
Daniel.
Emma's pulse spiked. He wasn't supposed to be back from his meeting until 3 PM.
Jake stood, extending a hand. "Daniel. Heard a lot about you."
Daniel ignored it. "Emma. My office. Now."
The walk back was silent. The moment his door closed, Daniel pinned her against it.
"Cancel Friday's meeting with him."
Emma lifted her chin. "Why? Scared he'll steal me away?"
Daniel's hands tightened on her waist. "Scared I'll have to buy his company just to fire him."
She laughed. "That's your solution? Hostile takeovers?"
His lips brushed her ear. "For you? I'd burn down the whole damn industry."
The knock on the door made them jump.
"Daniel?" The CFO's voice. "The board's waiting."
Daniel didn't move. "Tell them I'm in a critical negotiation."
Emma bit her lip to keep from laughing.