Temptation: Breaking Victoria Sharp

"Of course," Amara responded, recovering quickly. "Will you need anything else for the executive meeting?"

Victoria paused, considering. "Have James bring the complete Singapore timeline. We'll need to review it in light of Katherine's regulatory assessment."

The brief widening of Amara's eyes was the only indication that the instruction had registered as unusual. Since their confrontation, Victoria had been careful to communicate with James through email or team channels, avoiding direct interaction where possible.

"I'll let Mr. Mitchell know immediately," Amara said, her professional mask firmly back in place.

Victoria nodded once, gathering her tablet and the portfolio as she strode toward the door. The meeting would force her to confront the situation with James at least peripherally, within the structure of professional discussion. Perhaps that was for the best. Continued avoidance solved nothing, and Victoria Sharp didn't leave problems unresolved.

As she walked the executive corridor toward Conference Room A, Victoria felt her CEO persona fully reassert itself. Her posture straightened, her pace measured yet purposeful, her expression revealing nothing of the internal complexity she'd wrestled with minutes earlier. Employees nodded respectfully as she passed, some offering brief greetings that she acknowledged with professional courtesy.

This was the Victoria Sharp they knew focused, sharp, relentless in pursuit of excellence. Not the woman who had frozen at an unexpected challenge from her former assistant, or who had spent three sleepless nights replaying his words.

If you want these lips, then earn them.

Victoria pushed the thought aside with practiced mental discipline as she approached the glass doors of the conference room. Through the transparent walls, she could see the executive team already gathered, department heads and senior directors arranged around the polished table, engaged in pre-meeting conversation.

James sat on the far side, reviewing documents on his tablet, his posture relaxed yet professional. He looked up as if sensing her approach, their eyes meeting through the glass for a brief, electric moment before Victoria deliberately shifted her gaze to the CFO beside him.

She pushed open the door, entering the room with confident authority that immediately shifted the energy of the gathering. Conversations paused as attention turned to her, the natural deference that came with her position creating a momentary silence.

"Good afternoon," Victoria said, moving to her place at the head of the table. "Let's begin with the Singapore expansion updates. I've just concluded a regulatory consultation with Katherine Days that will impact our timeline."

The meeting proceeded with professional efficiency as Victoria led the team through updates and strategic adjustments. She directed questions to appropriate department heads, assigned action items with clear deadlines, and maintained the focused momentum that characterized her leadership style.

If she avoided direct eye contact with James, no one seemed to notice. If she directed questions about his strategic initiatives to the group rather than to him specifically, the approach appeared to be merely efficient rather than avoidant.

It was only when discussion turned specifically to the Singapore regulatory requirements that direct interaction became unavoidable.

"James," Victoria said, his name feeling strangely formal on her tongue after days of avoidance, "Katherine raised specific concerns about our data sovereignty approach. The timeline will need adjustment to accommodate the additional approval processes."

James met her gaze directly, his expression professionally neutral despite the undercurrent between them. "I anticipated potential complications. The contingency planning we discussed last month includes an extended runway for regulatory approvals."

Victoria nodded, aware of the executive team watching their interaction. "Show me the revised timeline."

James stood, moving to the presentation screen with tablet in hand. As he pulled up the detailed project timeline, Victoria found herself watching his movements with unwelcome awareness, the confident way he carried himself, the precise gestures as he expanded sections of the timeline, the subtle authority in his posture that had evolved gradually over their years working together.

He was no longer the deferential assistant who had once anticipated her every need while remaining carefully in the background. This James commanded attention naturally, his expertise acknowledged by the attentive expressions of the executive team as he walked them through the strategic adjustments.

"As you can see," he concluded, highlighting a section of the timeline, "we've built in a sixty-day buffer for regulatory complexities. Katherine's assessment falls well within that window, so our market entry date remains viable."

Victoria studied the timeline, impressed despite herself by the thoroughness of his planning. James had anticipated the very complications Katherine had outlined, building flexibility into the strategy without compromising the overall objectives.

It was exactly the kind of strategic thinking that had made him invaluable to her...to the company, she mentally corrected.

"The key investors will want assurance that the buffer is sufficient," she said, maintaining professional distance in her tone. "Prepare a detailed risk assessment comparing Katherine's requirements against our contingency planning."

James nodded, making a note on his tablet. "I'll have it ready for your review by tomorrow morning."

The meeting continued, shifting to other aspects of the global expansion strategy. Victoria maintained her composure throughout, directing discussion with focused precision, assigning action items with clear deadlines. If her awareness of James's presence across the table remained unusually acute, she refused to let it impact her professional performance.

When the meeting concluded ninety minutes later, Victoria gathered her materials with efficient movements. "James, a moment," she said as the executive team began filing out of the conference room.

He paused, watching as their colleagues departed, leaving them alone in the glass-walled space. Outside, the business of Sharp Innovations continued uninterrupted, employees moving through corridors, engaged in conversations, focused on screens. Inside, a weighted silence settled between them.

Victoria met his gaze directly, determined to establish professional equilibrium despite the personal complexity between them. "Your contingency planning for the regulatory issues was thorough," she acknowledged, her tone measured. "The investors will appreciate the foresight."

James nodded, his expression revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Anticipating complications is part of effective strategy."

The double meaning wasn't lost on Victoria, his words seemingly professional while potentially referencing the personal situation between them. She felt a flash of irritation at the verbal chess move, so similar to her own careful navigation of dual meanings.

"Indeed," she replied coolly. "Speaking of anticipation, I need you to work with Amara on improving the documentation from the Days meeting. The minutes lack the technical specificity required for implementation."

James's expression remained neutral, though something flickered briefly in his eyes, amusement, perhaps, at her transparent attempt to maintain professional distance while asking for his assistance.

"Of course," he said simply. "I'll connect with her this afternoon."

Victoria nodded once, gathering her portfolio and tablet. "Thank you," she added, the words feeling strangely formal between them after years of professional shorthand.

She turned to leave, then paused at the door, an impulsive thought forming before she could suppress it. Without turning back to face him, she said, "The Singapore strategy demonstrates exactly why your promotion was warranted. Well done."

Before he could respond, Victoria exited the conference room, moving with purposeful strides toward her office. The brief acknowledgment wasn't much certainly not the kind of "wooing" James had demanded but it represented something genuine amid the careful professional distance she'd maintained.

Whether it was a strategic retreat or a tentative advance, Victoria wasn't entirely sure herself.