Chapter 9 - The Freedom of Silk
Three months later.
The summer warmth had returned to Chicago, turning Lake Michigan into a shimmering sheet of deep sapphire blue.
At the Russo Meridian headquarters, the eighty-story executive floor had been completely redesigned. The dark, imposing black glass had been replaced with warm mahogany paneling, sunlit glass partitions, and vibrant green orchids.
Behind the massive executive desk sat Cecilia Garcia Russo.
She wore a breathtaking, sleeveless dress of bright emerald silk that hugged her generous curves with total confidence. Her dark hair fell in long, loose waves over her shoulders, and her hands were busy reviewing the Q3 international expansion contracts for the new European shipping lines.
On her left hand, a massive emerald-cut diamond ring caught the afternoon sunlight.
The door to her office opened smoothly.
Dallas walked in. He was wearing a charcoal suit without a jacket, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the dark ink that covered his forearms.
He walked around her desk, leaning down to lay a warm, slow kiss on the side of her neck, making her smile up from her papers.
"You're late for our lunch meeting, Vice President," Cecilia teased, turning her head to kiss his cheek.
"I was delayed by the legal board," Dallas rasped, sliding his arms around her waist from behind and pulling her back against his chest. "They wanted to know why our new scholarship foundation for young women in Florida was allocated fifty million dollars."
"And what did you tell them?"
"I told them to sign the check or find new jobs," Dallas smiled, his dark eyes sparkling with affection.
Cecilia turned in her leather chair, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You're getting soft, Mr. Russo."
"Only for you, Mrs. Russo," he growled softly, leaning down to press his lips against hers in a slow, deep kiss that made her head spin.
For three years, Cecilia had lived in the shadows of her own body, hiding behind gray suits and silent fears, believing she was a burden to be concealed. Today, she ran an empire beside the man who had bought her freedom, built her shield, and taught her that her soft, generous body was a sanctuary of strength.
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She was no longer invisible. She was no longer hiding.
She was free.
