Naomi Sterling didn't chase prestige—it found her. At twenty-nine, she'd carved out a reputation as one of the sharpest litigators at Carrow & Black, one of Manhattan's most ruthless firms. It was no place for the faint-hearted, and Naomi had long since burned out any illusions of fairness in favor of success.
She was reviewing a merger agreement when the email came in:
Subject: Welcome to the Team
From: HR
CC: Luca Moretti
She blinked. Luca Moretti. The name hit like a tremor in her gut. He was a myth among their circles—a former rival from Paragon Law, known for his scorched-earth tactics and that damn smirk that seemed to follow her across courtrooms and cocktail mixers.
Now, he was joining her firm.
She smoothed her expression as the knock came on her office door.
And there he was. Black suit. Careless confidence. A storm behind dark eyes.
"Naomi Sterling," he said. "Still pretending you're untouchable?"
She gave him a thin smile. "Still pretending you're not here to climb over everyone?"
He stepped inside. Too close. "We were good adversaries."
"That's not a compliment."
He didn't back off. "No. But it could be a warning."
---.