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“Since when?”

“Since now. It’s my rule.”

As much as I like to think I have the upper hand, that I’m the one weaving the web and bringing her closer and closer, she is ultimately the queen bee in the hive.

“You have a lot of rules,” I muse. “If I ask you somewhere else, you’ll say yes?”

She busies herself by continuing to sip on her coffee, avoiding my question.

I nudge her knee, but all she says is, “Your stop is next.”

“I’m not giving up.”

“I know.” She gives me a smile. “See you tomorrow, Cullen.”

“See you later, Verity.”

I step off the train and resist the urge to stand and wait for the doors to close, leaving the station and heading to my offices.

I thought I’d closed the distance between us, but she still seems determined to keep some space. I am almost there. I have her teetering on the edge; she just needs a final push. Now, I have to figure out what that is.

I shoot off a few texts to the group chat I have with Bridget and Chloe to see if they have any ideas.

Maybe I could ask Rafe to borrow his jet? He still owes me for going to the Kelton event with him.

I keep wracking my brain, trying to figure out what the perfect finale would be. The city buzzes around me as I get to the office building and head up the elevator to the floor our office is on.

The second I open the frosted glass door, my assistant jumps out at me.

“Mr. Ross.”

“Amy, God.” I reel back for a second before righting myself and heading toward my corner office. “Did you get the files sent over to Langley for his signature? The buyer sent in their offerthis morning, so I want to make sure we get it all squared away by noon. If we can close this deal by EOD, we’ll be golden.”

“Mr. Ross, you have a visitor.”

I glance at my watch. “I didn’t think I had any meetings until eleven.”

“They were unannounced. I sent you a message on Groupo.”

I hadn’t checked the messaging app we use for work because I’d been so focused on Verity.

“And you let them into my office?”

“I didn’t think you would want to have them sitting in the reception area.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s Ms. Brink.”

I halt, mere inches from my office, hand millimeters from the handle. The frosted glass only covers three-quarters of the door, and I can spot the woman inside with her back to me in the seat before my desk. It sends a barrage of rocks into the pit of my stomach.

I swivel around and speed walk away from the room as fast as I can without making a noise that would alert the woman to turn around and see me through the glass walls. Amy follows me as I push into an empty office on the other side of the reception area.

“Did you call Halston?”

“Yes, he said he would be here shortly and not to do anything until he arrives.”

There are a lot of things that I can handle.