Breaking His Boundaries (The Billionaire Hart Brothers #3)

Chapter 1

ELI

I squeeze my eyes shut and press my fingertips into my temples, groaning at the pulsing tension that now seems to reside there, permanently staking its claim. I’ve hardly looked away from my computer screen all day, so it’s no surprise I have yet another pounding headache.

The merger agreement I’m drafting is hundreds of pages long, filled with conditions, warranties, and clauses.

This one has been a major challenge. It’s been one problem after another, and the entire process of negotiations, back-and-forth discussions, endless drafts, reviews, and calls have overwhelmingly consumed my work for months.

Specializing in corporate law, specifically mergers, is usually straightforward, but the licensing and intellectual property patents and trademarks involved with this merger have kept me awake at night for months.

I’ve reread and rewritten almost every line of the document, not out of legal necessity but because the rhythm doesn’t feel right.

Eventually when I finally find sleep, my dreams are filled with paragraphs and citations that flash repeatedly behind my eyes, rearranging themselves as if I’m still working, leaving me feeling exhausted. There is no escaping this document or my need for it to be perfect.

“I need a vacation,” I mutter, pressing my fingers harder into my skin and the space between my eyes, which feels tighter than a knot. These two companies are making my life difficult.

“I think everyone should have at least three vacations a year.” A honey-smooth voice full of cheer makes my eyes spring open.

I’m completely taken aback by the vibrant woman with a smile wider than a crescent moon hovering in my doorway, and my brows furrow even further, the pain pounding stronger as I stare silently at the stranger who has stepped into my office looking like her hair’s been attacked by a rainbow.

“I hear Greece, Croatia, Denmark, and Morocco are nice this time of year. Or Japan,” she says, her eyes widening with excitement.

“Now Japan. That’s a place I would love to visit.

The cherry blossoms are so dreamy; you need to go in springtime for that, though.

But you could visit the temples and shrines and explore Nara to see the giant Buddha.

” She clutches her chest while I stay motionless and tongue-tied behind my desk, confused about who the woman with the colorful hair is.

On a roll, she keeps spewing out words I struggle to keep up with.

“You could even climb Mount Fuji or ride the bullet train, oh, or”—she holds her finger in the air like she just had the best idea—“you could participate in a sumo wrestling event.”

“A what?” I bark in surprise. Who the hell is this woman, and what is she doing in my office? She’s fraying my already thin nerves.

With a serious expression, she replies as if it’s the most normal suggestion in the world, “A sumo wrestling event.” She tilts her head side to side, then looks upward as if deep in thought, before shaking her head and scrunching her nose.

“Maybe not, actually, forget I said that. You could get an ass in your face, a lot of it too.” She shudders.

“That’s completely unnecessary, really. What else do you like to do in your free time?

” Her elfin features gaze at me expectantly.

My mouth drops open in bewilderment as my brain glitches, and eventually I ask, “I’m sorry, but who are you?

” I look past her petite frame for help, only to discover Tessa, my secretary, has left for the day.

It’s more than likely she said goodbye, but I have no recollection; my mind is elsewhere.

Lost in mounds of paperwork I can’t seem to navigate my way out of.

The stranger lifts her shoulders to her ears and smiles. “Opps. Sorry. Silly me. I’m Sapphire.”

“Sapphire?” What a fucking epic name.

“Yes.” She extends her hand in front of her, introducing herself. “Sapphire Feelgood.”

That surely can’t be her name; it’s like something out of a Disney movie. Only better.

I accept her handshake, savoring how warm her hand feels in mine, which is cold. I’ve been typing for too long today, and my fingers feel numb.

About to introduce myself, I open my mouth, but she beats me to it.

“And you are Elijah Hart. It says so on the plaque on your door.” She thumbs over her shoulder toward the nameplate.

“You’re a corporate lawyer, you run Hart Law with your three brothers, Nathan, Max, and Cole.

You’re the third born and the best merger and acquisitions lawyer in the state.

I did my homework.” Sapphire looks pleased with herself, that smile of hers unfaltering.

She definitely knows a thing or two about me.

What she doesn’t realize is that I play chess online most nights to unwind, enjoy bonsai cultivation, and mainly explore art galleries—mostly silent hobbies.

I can’t imagine Sapphire doing any of them because her style is loud, and she is, too.

There’s no way the word “whisper” ever enters her vocabulary.

But wait. “Sorry, who are you, exactly?” It’s late. Way past the time I usually allow appointments, something I am very strict about, which Tessa knows.

“I’m from Safire if I had, I would have been prepared.

I prefer order and organization and hate last-minute changes.

My life is perfectly planned. Just the way I like it.

“Let’s do this.” Sapphire claps her hands together again excitedly, the jingle jangle of her dozen or so bangles breaking me out of my sitting-on-the-fence thoughts.

Shit. I have to go. I don’t have a choice.

I let out a sigh, frustrated by this unexpected twist in my evening, and quickly save my document, and back it up, then fix the alignment of the books she pulled from the shelves, ignoring the way she quirks a questioning brow at me.

After a few seconds, I reluctantly follow her out of my office, putting on my suit jacket as we head to the elevator.

Sapphire’s mindless chitchat continues, and I struggle to keep up.

She’s on output permanently, it would appear.

Sapphire presses the call button. “Your annual staff team-building day is going to be amazing. I can feel it in my bones,” she says with a spark in her voice.

I almost hate how much she sounds like she loves her job. Good for Hart Law, though, and I can see why Janice hired her company. She’s more enthusiastic than an exclamation point.

“It’s going to be an enlightening experience.” Using her hands, she draws a rainbow across the sky just as Max walks past, chuckling to himself.

I scowl at him as he passes. The bastard is still in the office. Fucking tool.

“I love the hair,” he says, winking at Sapphire, referencing her ice-blonde wavy locks that are threaded with ribbons of color in pale pink, purple, yellow, green, and blue.

“Thanks.” She beams at him, waggling the ends as if waving to him, and a small tug pulls at my heartstrings.

What the fuck was that?

Annoyance?

Jealousy?

No fucking way.

Impossible.

“Suits you,” he replies like the damn ladies’ man he is, walking down the hall toward the restrooms while Sapphire keeps talking at me, asking questions I never get a chance to answer.

Does she ever take a breath?

Oh, boy, tonight is going to be a long one.

Should I go? Can I get out of this?

Shit, I know I can’t.

However, now that I think about it, I don’t really mind that I’m spending the night with her.

She’s fun.

Fuck that, fun doesn’t exist for me.