At that moment her thoughts spun like a slow storm.
She kept replaying the moment from last night—the way Zane had gently pushed her away after she kissed him. Not harshly, no. But it was clear. Firm. As if… she had crossed a line.
"This isn't what the contract is for, Emma," he had said, calm but distant. "No intimacy. You signed it."
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push it away, but it played again like a loop.
And now, this morning, Zane acted like nothing had happened at all.
He had walked past her earlier with the same composed, businesslike expression he always wore—asked Valentina about a scheduled call, nodded politely at Emma, and walked off like he hadn't shattered her pride the night before.
Emma exhaled softly and blinked.
How does he do it? she wondered.
