CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO – UNPROFESSIONAL

The tension persisted in the days and weeks that followed. Valeria seemed to take perverse delight in openly disregarding any semblance of professional boundaries with Lance. And the more comfortable she grew, the more brazenly she indulged her flirtatious whims. A hand on his forearm as she leaned in conspiratorially. A comment about his physique delivered with an appraising once-over. A loaded innuendo about "maximizing synergies" that implied horizontal varieties. Meanwhile, Lance's behavior continued sending mixed messages. He pushed back just enough to avoid any overt impropriety while still enabling Valeria's salacious conduct to escalate unchecked. Kayla was convinced he enjoyed bathing in the glow of Valeria's desire, even if he ostensibly shunned giving in fully. It all came to a head one evening when they were entertaining a group of investors over dinner. Lance had just delivered the polish presentation outlining their new joint AI ventures when Valeria rose from her seat