Page 31 of Executive Privilege

"It's seven-fifteen."

"I know."

Nicholas is quiet for a moment. "I don't want to let go of you yet."

The admission is soft, almost vulnerable, and completely at odds with his usual emotional control. It's the kind of thing that should scare him, that should send him reaching for his clothes and his professional distance.

Instead, he holds me tighter.

"Five more minutes," I say.

"Five more minutes," he agrees.

But we both know it's not really about the time. It's about the fact that whatever's happening between us is becoming morethan just physical chemistry, more than the simple arrangement we agreed to.

We have a professional relationship where we respect each other's strengths. Everyone can see that when we work together, we're a powerhouse. And the more time we spend together, the more we get to know each other and the respect and curiosity are building and deepening. And neither of us is ready to deal with what all of that means.

When we finally force ourselves to get dressed, to become professional partners again, the air between us has shifted. There's an intimacy now that wasn't there before.

As we rush to get out the door I feel beautiful when Nicholas looks at me while he adjusts his tie and I catch him watching me fix my lipstick in the hallway mirror.

"Ready?" he asks as I grab my purse.

"Ready."

But we're both lying. Because whatever's building between us, we're nowhere near ready for where it's leading.

Chapter 9: Her World

The week goes by smoothly. Nicholas is a brilliant work partner. I feel supported and also empowered.

The Morrison Industries retreat center looks like summer camp for executives—rustic cabins nestled among pine trees, with a beautiful log cabin style main lodge.

"This should be fun," I say to Nicholas as we unload our overnight bags from the company shuttle.

"Define fun," he replies, eyeing the rock climbing wall visible through the trees with what might be apprehension.

"Come on, Nicholas," Morrison calls out, approaching us with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely believes rope courses build character. "Ready to show the team what Event Horizons is made of?"

"Looking forward to it," Nicholas says with his professional smile, but I catch the way his jaw tightens slightly.

The next few hours pass in a blur of icebreaker activities and strategic planning sessions. I handle the social media documentation while Nicholas manages more executive interviews.

But it's when we reach the outdoor challenge course that things get interesting.

"All right, everyone," Morrison announces to the assembled group of executives and marketing team members. "We've got a rock climbing wall, rope courses, and collaborative problem-solving challenges designed to build trust and communication."

I glance at Nicholas, who's studying the climbing wall with the expression of someone being asked to have surgery without anesthesia.

"Sadie," Morrison continues, he's dropped last name formalities completely making me, at least, feel like an extension of his team, "since you're our expert climber, would you mind demonstrating the proper technique?"

"Of course," I say, already moving toward the wall to check the safety equipment. The holds are color-coded by difficulty level, and I choose an intermediate route that should be challenging enough to be impressive without being showoff-y.

As I strap on the harness and check my helmet, I become aware that Nicholas is watching me intensely.

"Safety first," the retreat instructor calls out as I approach the wall. "Remember, trust your equipment and communicate with your belayer."

I start climbing, falling into the familiar rhythm of reading the route, finding the holds, trusting my technique. About halfway up, I encounter a tricky sequence that requires me to reach across my body for a hold that looks questionable.