Samantha Leigh

The boardroom door crashes open, and a woman falls through, righting herself and blushing brightly when she notices that everyone is staring. She’s tall and attractive but swimming inside baggy beige trousers that cinch in at her small waist and an open matching blazer that’s at least two sizes too big. Her dark-rimmed glasses are too large for her pretty, heart-shaped face, framed by strands of dark hair that have pulled free of her long ponytail, and she’s balancing a cardboard tray in each hand, both loaded with drinks.

My drinks.

Her big, anxious eyes land on me and widen briefly before she drops her chin and hurries down the length of the room

I watch with mild curiosity as she avoids looking at me, fumbling a little as she pulls at the drinks, and once the six paper cups are lined up in front of me, she practically bolts for the doors.

Around the table, the Fury team ignores her, which annoys me. Even an intern deserves a nod of acknowledgment.

I choose the iced water and take a long draw, but before the mysterious brunette can make her escape from the big, bad Chord Davenport,

With each new room, I find myself anticipating Violet’s small sounds of admiration, and it’s weird how her opinion, which shouldn’t matter, makes me feel a little better after what just happened with Charlie.