The phone wouldn't stop ringing. Anna's name on the screen. Bright. Impossible to ignore. But Harrison ignored it. His eyes locked on Julius. Each ring like a test.
Harrison reached for the phone. Julius's heart sank. But Harrison didn't answer it. Instead, he turned the phone off. The screen went black. The ringing stopped. The conference room went quiet.
Harrison set the phone face-down on the table. Then looked back at Julius. "There," Harrison said. His voice was calm. Almost casual. "Does that answer your question?" Julius stared at him. Unable to speak. Harrison had just ignored Anna's call. For him.
"She'll think something's wrong," Julius said. His voice came out rougher than intended. "She'll worry." "Then she'll worry." Harrison took a step closer. "I'm busy." "With what?"
Harrison smirked. "With you." Those two words hit Julius like a physical touch. Heat spread through his chest. Down his spine. Lower.
