Chapter 10 The Acquisition

• Damien watched from his office window, his heart racing as he spotted Briar exiting the building. She moved quickly, her fists clenched tightly by her sides, an almost palpable tension hanging in the air around her. He leaned closer to the glass, hoping to catch her eye. Just as she reached her car, she paused. Turning slightly, she looked up, and their eyes met.
• In that moment, everything else around him faded. He raised his hand to the glass, yearning to connect with her in some way, even if it was just a gesture. She mirrored his action, her hand trembling as it rose to the window. He felt a tightening in his chest as he noted her fleeting vulnerability before she dropped her arm and hurried into her car.
• Letting her slip away was not an option anymore; the thought made him anxious. A million questions swirled in his mind. How could he make her see that they belonged together? The reality hit him hard-Briar was in a different world, working for another company. That distance weighed heavily on him. But as he thought about it, a spark of an idea ignited.