Raine
The air in the room grew heavy, but I didn’t flinch.
I sat perfectly still in my leather chair, my hands folded neatly on top of my desk.
I didn’t pull away, and I didn’t look surprised.
I was not about to let Miguel Harrison see a single crack in my armor.
“Mr.
Harrison,” I said, my voice coming out smooth, flat, and entirely professional.
“You are exactly on time.
We were just finishing up.”
Miguel didn’t answer me right away.
He walked forward, his long steps slow and deliberate as he approached the desk.
He stopped just two feet away from Kordell, looking down at him with a hard, unreadable expression.
“I didn’t realize Argent Solutions took meetings with outside investors before our scheduled review hours, Ms.
Argent,” Miguel said, his deep voice carrying a sharp edge.
He turned his attention fully to Kordell.
“And I certainly didn’t expect to see your ex standing in your private office.”
Kordell straightened his shoulders, trying to look composed under Miguel’s heavy stare, but he looked small compared to the man standing next to him.
“Miguel.
I was just handling some business with Raine.”
”Ms.
Argent,” I corrected Kordell instantly, my voice sharp and cutting.
I looked right at him, my eyes cold.
“In this office, Kordell, you will address me by my professional title.
And as for your presence, Mr.
Harrison, my schedule prior to nine o’clock is entirely my own business.
You do not run my daily calendar.”
Miguel turned his dark eyes toward me, a small, cynical smile touching his lips.
“An audit covers all current and potential liabilities, Ms.
Argent.
When I see your ex in your office this early morning or the week, it becomes my concern.”
I leaned back slightly in my chair, crossing one leg over the other.
I didn’t offer a single explanation about why Kordell was there, because I didn’t owe Miguel one.
“You can review the official client logs once a contract is signed,” I replied smoothly, looking directly into Miguel’s eyes without a hint of fear.
“Until then, my meetings are strictly confidential.” Kordell cleared his throat, stepping in to keep the focus entirely on business.
“My family’s company is looking to move a large volume of building materials down into the tri-state area over the next two quarters.
We need a high-tech logistics firm to handle the automated tracking and shipping compliance.
I came here early today to see if Argent Solutions had the capacity to take on the contract.” Kordell explained even though I already made it clear to Miguel that he doesn’t need any explanation.
Kordell’s explanation was simple, direct, and completely corporate.
It was standard business, and it left no room for personal questions.
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Miguel stared at Kordell for a long moment, his face completely blank.
He was trying to read between the lines, trying to find a reason to push further, but Kordell’s professional tone gave him absolutely nothing to grip onto.
“A standard shipping contract,” Miguel repeated softly, stepping aside, clearing a direct path toward the exit doors.
“Then I suggest you have your legal team send the formal terms over to our compliance department, Kordell.
Ms.
Argent and I have a strict data review to attend to.”
The direction was clear.
Kordell looked at me, a lingering look of worry in his eyes, but he knew better than to argue.
“Thank you for your time, Ms.
Argent,” he said, giving me a polite, formal nod.
“I will have my secretary email the documents over by tomorrow morning.”
”Thank you, Kordell.
My team will review them,” I said, my tone completely empty of any personal warmth.
Kordell turned on his heel and walked quickly out of the office, the heavy double doors closing firmly behind him.
The moment the doors shut, the silence in the room became thick and heavy.
Miguel didn’t take his seat across from my desk.
Instead, he walked slowly around the side, stopping right next to my chair, completely stepping into my personal space.
“Do you really expect me to believe he came all this way just to talk about shipping lanes, Raine?” he asked, his voice dropping into a low, quiet murmur.
I didn’t blink or pull back my chair.
I turned my head slowly, looking straight up into his handsome, hard face with a cold smile.
“I don’t care what you believe, Mr.
Harrison,” I said, my voice entirely steady.
“My job is to run a profitable logistics firm.
If a client walks into my office with a multi-million dollar contract, I talk to them.
I do not answer to you about who I choose to do business with.”
Miguel leaned down slightly, resting his large hand on the corner of my desk.
His face, just inches from mine, his dark eyes searching my features for any sign of hesitation.
“He looked like a man who was desperate.
And you look like you are hiding something.” His words made my blood turn cold but I’ll be stupid to let it show.
“Then go find it in the data, Mr.
Harrison,” I countered sharply, my eyes locking onto his with absolute defiance.
“That is what your audit team is upstairs for, isn’t it?
Look at the warehouse metrics.
But stay out of my executive decisions.
You bought a majority stake in the company, but you did not buy me, and you do not dictate how I speak to my clients.”
Miguel’s jaw set into a hard, rigid line.
He stared at me, a flash of sudden surprise crossing his eyes before it was replaced by a deep, dark intensity.
“You’ve grown very cold,” he whispered, his eyes scanning my face.
“I do not have time for all these this morning, Mr.
Harrison” I replied flatly.
I was completely tired of him being surprised about how I reacted.
“Now, if you are finished wasting my time with personal questions, sit down across from the desk so we can review the fourth-quarter spending.
I have a hard stop at noon.”
Miguel slowly straightened up to his full height.
He didn’t look angry; instead, a dangerous, deeply intrigued spark lit up his dark eyes.
I’ve seen that spark for the past few days and I’ve successfully told myself it has nothing to do with me.
He walked back around the desk and took his seat in the leather chair, leaning back with a calm ease.
“Very well, Ms.
Argent,” he said, his voice smooth and professional once again.
“Let’s see what your data looks like.”
For the next two hours, we dug straight into the corporate files.
I pulled up our automated tracking costs, our regional labor fees, and our warehouse overhead margins.
I didn’t show a single emotion, keeping the conversation strictly centered on percentages and legal compliance.
Miguel asked precise questions about our shipping software like he always did and I answered every single one without a single second of hesitation, like I also did too.
This was my blood and sweat and I could answer whatever questions that concerned it, even in my dream.
By the time the clock struck twelve, the master folder for the day was completely clear.
I closed my laptop with a firm snap and stood up, smoothing the front of my blazer.
“That concludes our session for today, Mr.
Harrison.
My assistant will email you the scheduling blocks for Tuesday morning.”
Miguel stood up as well, grabbing his leather briefcase.
He looked at me across the desk, his dark eyes carrying a quiet, intense weight.
“Until them, Ms.
Argent,” he said formally.
He turned and walked out of the office, his heavy steps steady and confident.
The moment the doors closed, I finally let out a slow, deep breath.
I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone.
I was about to call Joshua when I saw he already texted saying we should meet because he had an idea of how I could get myself away from all these mess.