He didn''t say another word, just clenched his fists at his sides. Behind the gold- rimmed sses, a cold glint shed in his eyes.

A sharp knock came at the door.

"Come in," Carolyn called.

Richard, the executive assistant, stepped inside with two security guards. They yanked Devin up from where he''d been kneeling on the floor.

Richard shot a look at Peter, the department manager.

Peter''s voice was t and icy. "I can walk out on my own."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode toward the door.

The guards dragged Devin, the deputy project manager, out of the office. Devin struggled the whole way, shouting, "Ms. Witt! Please! Just give me one more chance, I swear I''ll do better!"

Carolyn''s lips pressed into a thin line. Her face was stone cold. She didn''t even look at him.

Once Devin was gone, Carolyn finally spoke, her tone brisk and chilly. "Richard, send out a notice. We''re meeting in the conference room in ten minutes. I''ll be appointing a new project manager and deputy."

"Yes, Ms. Witt."

With a new project manager in charge, the whole team buckled down and pulled a week ofte nights. Atst, they put together a proposal that finally made Carolyn nod in approval.

Proposal in hand, Carolyn headed to Fisher Corporation to see Joshua.

Sinceing back to the country, she''d been to Fisher Corp''s headquarters a few times already.

Downstairs, the new receptionist, Mindy, knew her by now.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Witt," Mindy greeted her warmly as soon as she walked in.

Carolyn smiled, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button for the twenty- seventh floor.

The twenty-seventh was just below the CEO''s suite-only Joshua''s private elevator went all the way up Every time Carolyn visited, she could only wait in the lounge on twenty-seven until Joshua finished. whatever he was doing.

As Carolyn entered the elevator, Allison was just walking into the Fisher Corporation lobby.

She''d drafted thewsuits Fisher Corp hadmissioned and needed the legal rep''s signature and thepany seat Since their office wasntar, she figured she''d just drop by herself.

She remembered Joshua had brought thepany''s legal rep to thew firmst time, but Allison hadn''t actually met the person.

Beforeing, she''d called Joshua''s assistant, John, but he hadn''t picked up— probably caught up in a meeting.

Downstairs, Mindy stopped her at the front desk. "Miss, who are you here to see?"

"I''m here to see Joshua."

Mindy sized her up, suspicion ring in her eyes. Another one chasing after the CEO?

In her three months at Fisher Corp, Mindy had lost count of how many hopefuls she''d had to turn away for the boss. At this point, she was almost numb.

Assuming Allison was another one, Mindy''s voice cooled. "Do you have an appointment?"

Allison shook her head. "No, but I—"

I can just call your CEO right now.

Before Allison could finish, Mindy cut her off. "No appointment, no meeting. Please leave."

Allison didn''t lose her cool. She just said, calmly, "I actually know him."

Mindy let out a dryugh, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Every day, some womanes in here iming she knows the boss. I''ve heard it so much my ears could grow calluses. Trust me, youre

wasting your

CEO ISA''T time Our someone you can just walk in and

see whenever you want."