Chapter 16: Fire With Fire
Anna’s POV
I settled into the chair behind Sean’s desk, crossing my legs and leaning back with a deliberate calm that belied the storm I felt brewing around us. The office, sleek and modern, bore the lingering tension of recent events. The shadows from the overhead lighting cast sharp lines across the desk, matching the sharp edge in my mood.
Sean hovered near the edge of the room, uncertain. His posture was tense shoulders drawn up slightly, arms awkward at his sides. He looked like a man carrying weight too heavy for his frame. I didn’t miss the tightness in his jaw, the way his eyes flicked to the floor before daring to meet mine.
"Ms. Shaw, I want to apolo—"
"Don’t," I cut him off before the sentence could settle in the air.
My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t soften it. I lifted my gaze from the folder in front of me and met his eyes directly. "If you’re about to apologize for Jack Simpson’s behavior, save it. His actions reflect on him not you."
Sean’s mouth opened, closed again. He looked like a man preparing to drown.
"I never meant to bring trouble to the project," he said quietly. His voice was barely more than a whisper.
I set the folder down with care, letting the moment breathe before I spoke again. "Sean, I placed you here because you earned it. You don’t need to apologize for existing. You’re not responsible for the insecurities of men who fear losing control."
He blinked.
"I know it’s not easy," I continued. "But the best way to silence men like Jack is with results. You don’t argue with them. You don’t defend yourself. You outclass them until they have no ground to stand on."
There was a long pause. Then, something shifted in Sean small but unmistakable. His shoulders squared slightly. His chin lifted.