"This time I wasn't about to let another eleven years pass," Alexander said, his voice carrying that quiet certainty that made boardrooms fall silent. His hand shifted, fingers interlacing with hers with deliberate possession. "I walked over without letting myself overthink it. I just knew I had to talk to her."
"She looked at me like she had absolutely no idea who I was," Alexander continued, and a self-deprecating smile played at his lips—the kind that made him seem approachable despite the tailored suit and CEO polish. "Took her a full minute to place me. I was convinced I'd made a complete fool of myself."
"In my defense," Seraphina said, finding her voice and sliding into her role with practiced ease, "you'd changed. Grown into yourself. Become this powerful CEO I'd been reading about in business journals."
