Page 13 of Executive Privilege

"It's work, Emma."

"Uh-huh. In a hotel. In another city. Where no one from your office will be watching."

I delete the conversation, suddenly nervous about the whole thing.

"Sadie!" Frankie appears at my desk with her usual warm smile. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Good ghost or bad ghost?"

"Nicholas and I are going to Dallas next week for the Morrison executive content."

Frankie's eyebrows shoot up. "Just the two of you? That's... interesting."

She probably can't wait to run back to Marus to tell him. "Just remember to pack clothes for more than work meetings. Dallas has great restaurants."

The idea of four days alone with Nicholas Blackwood terrifies and excites me in equal measure.

My computer chimes with a new email from Jennifer, and I open it immediately.

Morrison Industries Executive Content - Dallas Trip Details

Sadie - Preliminary schedule attached. Fly out Tuesday morning, return Friday evening. Morrison has arranged foryou to stay at the Four Seasons downtown, which is walking distance from their headquarters.

***

At six o'clock, most of the office has cleared out, but I'm still at my desk when I hear footsteps approaching.

"Still here?" Nicholas appears beside my desk, carrying his laptop bag and wearing that slightly rumpled end-of-day look that makes him seem a thousand times more approachable.

"Just looking at the Morrison executive profiles and framework."

"Mind if I take a look?"

Instead of asking me to email him the document, Nicholas moves a chair to the spot beside my desk where he sat earlier. When he leans over to read my screen, I can feel the warmth of his body again. I could get used to that warmth.

"This is comprehensive," he says, scrolling through my analysis of Morrison's executive team. "You've identified personality types, communication styles, even potential talking points that would resonate with different audience segments."

"I figured the more we know about their individual strengths, the better we can tailor the content to feel authentic rather than scripted."

"Smart." He pauses on my analysis of Morrison's CEO. "This observation about his tendency toward technical details versus emotional messaging—how did you pick up on that?"

"Body language during the presentations. When we talked about market data and competitive analysis, he leaned forward, asked specific questions, and seemed genuinely engaged. But when wediscussed brand emotional connection and customer sentiment, he deferred to his marketing director."

Nicholas turns to look at me, and there's admiration in his expression. "You were reading the room at that level of detail during your own presentation?"

"It's pattern recognition. Like climbing, actually—you read the route while you're on it."

"Climbing?" Nicholas raises an eyebrow, and I realize I've just revealed personal information about myself.

"Rock climbing. It's my stress relief hobby. Probably sounds weird to someone who plays guitar."

"You know I play guitar?"

"You mentioned it Thursday night when we were all at dinner." I feel heat rise in my cheeks.

There's a pause, and Nicholas is looking at me with an expression I can't quite read. "Rock climbing sounds... challenging."

"Only if you don't know what you're doing. But there's a focus required, clears everything else out of your head." I glance at him. "I imagine guitar does the same for you."

"Similar effect," he says quietly.