She turned toward the skyline.
Jake studied her profile.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“You really wanted me here?”
She looked toward him.
“Yes.”
“Not because I might diagnose a billion-dollar factory?”
“I didn't know you'd do that.”
“Good.”
“What?”
“That would've been weird.”
She laughed.
Jake stepped closer.
Her eyes moved toward him.
Distance disappeared.
The gala noise became faint behind the glass.
Claire’s voice softened.
“You still think I used you?”
“Less.”
“How much less?”
“Enough that I'm considering kissing you.”
Her breath caught.
“That sounds dangerously conditional.”
“It is.”
“What condition?”
“Don't lie to me again.”
Claire held his gaze.
“I won't.”
Jake leaned in.
Stopped.
Close.
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
Gentle first.
Claire’s fingers touched his shirt.
Then the kiss deepened just enough to make Jake forget entirely that several billionaires were probably twenty feet away.
When they separated, Claire smiled.
“That was worth hiding my title for.”
Jake laughed.
“Careful.”
“What?”
“I can still leave.”
She slipped her arm through his.
“No.”
“You can't.”
“CEO order?”
“Date order.”
He shook his head.
“Dangerous woman.”
The next morning, Claire called at 6:12.
Jake answered half asleep.
“If this is about breakfast, no.”
“It's about Graham.”
Jake sat up.
“What happened?”
“Another thermal event.”
“At the plant?”
“Yes.”
“Machine fire.”
“Injuries?”
“No.”
Jake stood.
Claire continued:
“I’m flying there.”
“Okay.”
“Come.”
Jake stared.
“Claire.”
“Please.”
The word changed everything.
Not command.
Not CEO.
Please.
Jake looked toward Lily’s room.
“What time?”
“Forty minutes.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don't.”
“Getting closer.”
Two hours later, Jake stood inside the manufacturing plant wearing borrowed safety glasses and a visitor badge.
Graham was furious.
“This is completely inappropriate.”
Claire walked past him.
“Good morning to you too.”
“You brought your mechanic.”
Jake smiled.
“Missed you.”
Graham ignored him.
The damaged machine sat behind safety barriers.
Jake approached.
Heat discoloration.
Coolant traces.
Replaced pump looked new.
Sensor new.
Controller new.
But something else caught his attention.
Maintenance log.
Jake read.
“Who approved these?”
Graham replied:
“Plant maintenance.”
Jake pointed.
“Every thermal incident happened within three hours of filter replacement.”
Claire moved closer.
“What does that mean?”
Jake opened the housing.
Looked inside.
Then smiled without humor.