Charlotte Hayes believed she was a modern woman—career first, love second, if at all. She'd worked hard to get where she was: two years at Tinsley Fashions, a decent flat in Zone 2, and a promotion just within reach. She didn't need a man to complete her. She needed a man to stay out of her way. Oliver Sterling was the opposite. He'd built his reputation at Anya, the French luxury house, climbing from trainee store manager to UK Sales Director in seven years. He had a simple rule: never date a colleague. Office romances were messy, unprofessional, and—in his words—"a sign of low intelligence." He'd watched too many careers implode over a bad breakup. Then he met Charlotte. She was sharp, driven, and completely unimpressed by his title. He was charming, relentless, and utterly impossible to ignore. They tried to stay professional. They failed.