Chapter 3

A few years ago, Nathan came home looking like he’d seen a ghost. I knew something was wrong the moment he walked through our apartment door.

He sat on our Italian leather sofa for what felt like hours before he finally spoke. He’d run into the family of the drunk driver who killed his parents.

The accident happened when Nathan was at Harvard. His parents were stopped at a red light on the Mass Pike when a drunk driver plowed into them at full speed. All three died instantly.

Claire Morrison was that driver’s daughter.

Nathan had discovered this three months after his HR team hired her as his executive assistant.

I’d never seen him so shaken his hands trembling, eyes bloodshot. “Emma, I can’t… every time I see her, all I can think about is that night. Sometimes I just want to. His voice cracked. This was Nathan Pierce the man who could make or break companies without blinking completely undone.

I pulled him close, running my fingers through his hair. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to handle this alone. You can have HR transfer her, give her a great recommendation.”

That was the first time I’d ever seen the ruthless CEO of Pierce & Associates break down like a lost child, holding onto me like I was his anchor to reality.

When I carefully broached the subject a few weeks later, he seemed back to his usual composed self.

had her moved to Operations on a different

all? Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

I can’t let the past control me forever. Maybe this is my chance to grow

visits, Claire vanished from sight. Nathan never mentioned her again.

when she walked into his corner

thought Melissa was your assistant

“She’s on maternity

coverage.”

the adjustment,”

executive material, Small–boned, almost delicate, with plain features and off–the–rack clothes. She had this permanent deer in headlights look like someone who spent their life trying not to

of Love. Seven Minutes:

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Chapter 3

be noticed.

Pierce, I should get back to the front desk.”

turned, I caught sight of something on

Unmistakably hickeys.

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