“And you’re glowing. I mean that. I’m happy for you.” His voice dipped into something more serious now, something grounded. “That man better know what he’s got and if he ever forgets again?—”
“You’d take me with my babies, pregnant and all?”
“In a muthafuckin’ heartbeat,sheittttt…” Harlan drawled, hand over his chest like he was pledging allegiance. “I’d put y’all names in my will and on some trusts same day.”
Sabine snorted, trying not to laugh too loud.
“You ain’t gotta believe me,” he added, smiling softer now. “But you ever need reminding you still got it? You know where my office is.”
She looked down, that blush creeping up again. “You always know exactly what to say.”
“I know you enough,” he replied simply and that made her quiet. Because he did. Just not in the way that changed anything.
Harlan leaned back against the conference table, arms crossed, watching her with that same poised confidence that always put people at ease, even when it was laced with mischief at times.
“You gon’ be alright, Bine. Even with your lil boyfriend and arch nemesis in the same damn room.”
Sabine rolled her eyes, the laugh escaping before she could help it. “Please don’t call him that.”
“What? Boyfriend?”
“Yes,” she playfully slapped his arm. “Don’t be petty.”
“Alright, alright,” he grinned wide. “I’ll be respectful. Father of your child and lead on this extremely important contract.” He threw in air quotes for effect. “But I’m just sayin’…if it gets weird in here, don’t be afraid to blink twice. I’ll body block whoever needs blockin’.”
“I’m not blinking for you, Harlan.”
He winked. “Yet.”
Sabine shook her head, her smile sticking this time. “Thank you. For this. For always making me laugh when I should probably be panicking.”
“You got this. I’ve never seen you more in your element. Glowing, pregnant, powerful…shit, you’re unstoppable.” Hestraightened and gave her a small, sincere nod. “You’re gonna be okay. Especially with that man back in your corner. I don’t like him because I don’t know him, but I respect the shift I see inyoubecause of him.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, Big Bine.”
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Sunlight spilled through floor-to-ceiling windows, glinting off chrome table legs and catching the subtle gold foil of Aderra’s logo printed atop the contract folders. Everyone had been told to arrive ten minutes early, and like any well-oiled team operating under Black excellence and mild caffeine, they did exactly that.
Sabine stood just behind her chair, both palms pressed to the edge of the table as she centered herself. Head high. Expression calm.
Then the door opened.
And everything in her tensed but not from nerves.
Adair walked in like he belonged in the center of every damn room. His skin was rich under the light, his jaw flexing once as he scanned the room. Eyes locked on her, just for a second, and there it was again, that spark of knowing, of quiet assurance, of him seeing her even in a room full of eyes.
But what did her in wasn’t the suit or the jawline or the slow, confident stride.
It was the drink in his hand.
Her drink. From her spot.
Even she didn’t think to grab one that morning. Her stomach flipped. She didn’t have to look closely, she could smell it from where she stood. Citrus and ginger and a hint of honey and lavender. The exact mix she lived on while pregnant with Ade. She hadn’t even realized he remembered, let alone thought to get it.
Goddamn him.