Chapter 4 - THE BOARDROOM
When Nia pushed into the executive conference room on the forty-third floor, the air turned to ice. Ethan Sterling sat at the head of a sprawling mahogany table, his tailored suit immaculate, his jaw locked in a terrifying line. He didn't see a woman who had just saved a life; he saw a late, disheveled liability. His cold, dark eyes swept over her torn skirt, her bleeding knees, and the horrifying stain on her blouse. Before Nia could even open her mouth to explain the accident, Ethan stood up, his voice dripping with aristocratic disdain. "People like you disgust me. Walking into my building looking like absolute trash and expecting a handout. Get out of my sight." Nia felt the humiliation burn hot behind her eyes, but her spine turned to steel. She gently set her ruined portfolio on the table, met his ruthless gaze without blinking, and walked out.
