Chapter 25

Annie's POV

The city lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Howard’s office were a shimmering backdrop to the silence that stretched between us. Howard was standing by the window, his silhouette sharp against the New York skyline. When he turned to look at me, the sheer intensity in his eyes made my breath hitch. It wasn't the look of a cold CEO anymore; it was the look of a man who had stared into the abyss and realized what truly mattered.

"I thought I lost you today," he whispered, his voice cracking with a raw vulnerability I’d never heard from him before.

In two long strides, he was in front of me. Before I could say a word, he pulled me into a fierce, protective embrace. His arms wrapped around me like a shield, as if he were trying to weld our souls together to keep the world away. I buried my face in his chest, breathing in the comforting scent of cedarwood and rain that always seemed to follow him.

The air in the office shifted, becoming thick with an unspoken longing that had been building for months. He leaned down, his forehead resting against mine. "Annie," he breathed, his hands cupping my face with a tenderness that brought hot tears to my eyes. His thumbs traced the line of my jaw, a gesture so intimate and gentle it made my heart ache.

When he finally kissed me, it wasn't just a release of tension—it was a claim, a silent promise of a future where I would never have to stand alone again. It was a kiss that spoke of everything we had endured and everything we hoped to build. We stood together in the quiet sanctuary of the office, the steady presence of each other supporting us as we let the chaos of the outside world fade away.

The mergers, the betrayals, and the shadows of the past—all seemed small compared to this. The world outside disappeared until there was nothing left but the steady rhythm of our hearts beating in sync. In that moment, I realized that the walls I’d built around my heart had finally crumbled. I wasn't just safe; I was home.