#zero trust architecture

[react-js-state-1]

The Future of Enterprise Security: Why Zero Trust Architecture Is No Longer Optional

Introduction: The Myth of the Perimeter Is Dead

For decades, enterprise security was built on a simple, but now outdated, idea: trust but verify. IT teams set up strong perimeters—firewalls, VPNs, gateways—believing that once you’re inside, you’re safe. But today, in a world where remote work, cloud services, and mobile devices dominate, that perimeter has all but disappeared.

The modern digital enterprise isn’t confined to a single network. Employees log in from coffee shops, homes, airports. Devices get shared, stolen, or lost. APIs and third-party tools connect deeply with core systems. This creates a massive, fragmented attack surface—and trusting anything by default is a huge risk.

Enter Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)—a new security mindset based on one core rule: never trust, always verify. Nothing inside or outside the network is trusted without thorough, ongoing verification.

Zero Trust isn’t just a buzzword or a compliance box to tick anymore. It’s a critical business requirement.

The Problem: Trust Has Become a Vulnerability

Why the Old Model Is Breaking

The old security approach assumes that once a user or device is authenticated, they’re safe. But today’s breaches often start from inside the network—a hacked employee account, an unpatched laptop, a misconfigured cloud bucket.

Recent attacks like SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline showed how attackers don’t just break through the perimeter—they exploit trust after they’re inside, moving laterally, stealing data silently for months.

Data Lives Everywhere — But the Perimeter Doesn’t

Today’s businesses rely on a mix of:

SaaS platforms

Multiple clouds (public and private)

Edge and mobile devices

Third-party services

Sensitive data isn’t locked away in one data center anymore; it’s scattered across tools, apps, and endpoints. Defending just the perimeter is like locking your front door but leaving all the windows open.

Why Zero Trust Is Now a Business Imperative

Zero Trust flips the old model on its head: every access request is scrutinized every time, with no exceptions.

Here’s why Zero Trust can’t be ignored:

1. Adaptive Security, Not Static

Zero Trust is proactive. Instead of fixed rules, it uses continuous analysis of:

Who the user is and their role

Device health and security posture

Location and network context

Past and current behavior

Access decisions change in real time based on risk—helping you stop threats before damage occurs.

2. Shrinks the Attack Surface

By applying least privilege access, users, apps, and devices only get what they absolutely need. If one account is compromised, attackers can’t roam freely inside your network.

Zero Trust creates isolated zones—no soft spots for attackers.

3. Designed for the Cloud Era

It works naturally with:

Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Microservices and containers

It treats every component as potentially hostile, perfect for hybrid and multi-cloud setups where old boundaries don’t exist.

4. Built for Compliance

Data privacy laws like GDPR, HIPAA, and India’s DPDP require detailed access controls and audits. Zero Trust provides:

Fine-grained logs of users and devices

Role-based controls

Automated compliance reporting

It’s not just security—it’s responsible governance.

The Three Core Pillars of Zero Trust

To succeed, Zero Trust is built on these key principles:

1. Verify Explicitly

Authenticate and authorize every request using multiple signals—user identity, device status, location, behavior patterns, and risk scores. No shortcuts.

2. Assume Breach

Design as if attackers are already inside. Segment workloads, monitor constantly, and be ready to contain damage fast.

3. Enforce Least Privilege

Grant minimal, temporary access based on roles. Regularly review and revoke unused permissions.

Bringing Zero Trust to Life: A Practical Roadmap

Zero Trust isn’t just a theory—it requires concrete tools and strategies:

1. Identity-Centric Security

Identity is the new perimeter. Invest in:

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Single Sign-On (SSO)

Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC)

Federated Identity Providers

This ensures users are checked at every access point.

2. Micro-Segmentation

Divide your network into secure zones. If one part is breached, others stay protected. Think of it as internal blast walls.

3. Endpoint Validation

Only allow compliant devices—corporate or BYOD—using tools like:

Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Posture checks (OS updates, antivirus)

4. Behavioral Analytics

Legitimate credentials can be misused. Use User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to catch unusual activities like:

Odd login times

Rapid file downloads

Access from unexpected locations

This helps stop insider threats before damage happens.

How EDSPL Is Driving Zero Trust Transformation

At EDSPL, we know Zero Trust isn’t a product—it’s a continuous journey touching every part of your digital ecosystem.

Here’s how we make Zero Trust work for you:

Tailored Zero Trust Blueprints

We start by understanding your current setup, business goals, and compliance needs to craft a personalized roadmap.

Secure Software Development

Our apps are built with security baked in from day one, including encrypted APIs and strict access controls (application security).

Continuous Testing

Using Vulnerability Assessments, Penetration Testing, and Breach & Attack Simulations, we keep your defenses sharp and resilient.

24x7 SOC Monitoring

Our Security Operations Center watches your environment around the clock, detecting and responding to threats instantly.

Zero Trust Is a Journey — Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Implementing Zero Trust takes effort—rethinking identities, policies, networks, and culture. But the cost of delay is huge:

One stolen credential can lead to ransomware lockdown.

One exposed API can leak thousands of records.

One unverified device can infect your entire network.

The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is now.

Conclusion: Trust Nothing, Protect Everything

Cybersecurity must keep pace with business change. Static walls and blind trust don’t work anymore. The future is decentralized, intelligent, and adaptive.

Zero Trust is not a question of if — it’s when. And with EDSPL by your side, your journey will be smart, scalable, and secure.

Ready to Transform Your Security Posture?

EDSPL is here to help you take confident steps towards a safer digital future. Let’s build a world where trust is earned, never assumed.

Visit Reach Us

Book a Zero Trust Assessment

Talk to Our Cybersecurity Architects

Zero Trust starts now—because tomorrow might be too late.

Please visit our website to know more about this blog https://edspl.net/blog/the-future-of-enterprise-security-why-zero-trust-architecture-is-no-longer-optional/

[goodoldbandit]

Guiding IT Leaders Through Zero Trust Transformation.

Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo. skm.stayingalive.in Blueprint for IT leaders: Adopt Zero Trust to shield data, drive growth, and embed security in every access request. In today’s threat-filled world, #ZeroTrustArchitecture is more than a buzzword. It’s a shift in how we secure data, devices, and people. As a veteran technology executive, I’ve seen perimeter walls fall. I’ve…

[report360uk]

Cloud Security Market: Explosive Growth and Future Opportunities! Discover the massive growth of the Cloud Security Market! Expected to reach $87.82 billion by 2030, driven by rising cyber threats and evolving regulations. Explore key trends and opportunities.

Read more

[trantor-inc]

Learn how Zero Trust Architecture is transforming cybersecurity by eliminating implicit trust and enforcing strict access controls. This model protects sensitive data, mitigates cyber threats, and ensures secure access across networks, devices, and applications. Dive into our blog to explore the core principles, benefits, and implementation strategies of Zero Trust Architecture, and discover why it’s essential for modern businesses.

[infosectrain03]

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a modern cybersecurity model designed to address the increasing complexity of IT systems and the evolving threat landscape. Unlike traditional perimeter-based security approaches that trust internal users and networks by default, Zero Trust works on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This indicates that no user, device, or application is inherently trusted, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network perimeter.

[blogaarkasolutions]

KEEPING DATA SAFE IN WEB DEVELOPMENT WITH ZERO TRUST ARCHITECTURE

Nowadays, with the increased use of internet, it’s crucial to protect user data. With a lot of cyber security threats around, traditional security methods aren’t enough. As traditional security methods rely on perimeter based approach, and with the rise of remote network use the network perimeter approach became equally difficult to secure user data. This is where ZTA (Zero Trust Architecture) comes in. It overcomes the limitations of traditional security methods by treating every access request as potential risk and uses strong authentication methods. This approach of ZTA secures user data even in complex remote networks. As today’s websites deals with sensitive user information like, personal details, payment details and any other confidential information, a poor security approach can lead stolen data which can lead to financial loss, harm to website reputation and even legal issues. So using ZTA can protect sensitive data which is very crucial for web applications.

The role of ZTA in web application data security:

Limited Data Access: ZTA only allows user to access the data they need for their work. For example, if a customer service agent works for customer queries and they might need to see customers’ details like name, order id, compliant number, etc., and they don’t need access to customer’s sensitive data like payment details or private data. ZTA does its work in this situation by providing access to the right amount data. It reduces the risk of data being stolen if a hacker broke into customer service agent account, as ZTA provides only necessary information they won’t get access to any sensitive data.

Strict Authentication: In Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), every time a user need to access information, their request will be checked carefully. It uses Multi-Factor Authentication, at first user needs to enter a password, and then asks for a code that sent to your mobile. It helps in a situation when a user password is stolen by someone, they can’t access information without this code. At the same time, ZTA checks whether the device used by the user is secure or not. If someone tries to access information from a device that isn’t protected, ZTA doesn’t allow those users.  By doing these checks every time, ZTA protects sensitive data of user’s from unauthorized access.

Data Encryption: Data Encryption keeps your information safe when sending data online like passwords or credit card numbers. Zero Trust Architecture uses strong encryption methods to protect sensitive data. When we visit any website, it uses HTTP code, it encrypts the data travelling between your device and web server. Even if someone tries to intercept the data, they can’t read it because it’s encrypted. This helps in keeping personal data safe from attackers.

Data Segmentation: ZTA uses micro segmentation to divide network into smaller parts and each part have their own set of security. For example, in a web application the user data stored in a segment, payment information in another one and other details in a segment. If there’s an unauthorised access into the web application in a segment, the intruder can’t access other segments faster, as each segment have its own set of security. By integrating ZTA, if one segment gets attacked, the sensitive data in the other one remains safe.

With the increase of cyber threats, ZTA is becoming equally important in web development. So, it’s essential to incorporate ZTA in web development to secure sensitive data. It not only protects user’s data, but also protects organisation reputation. At Aarka Solutions, our job is not only to deliver web solutions on time, but also prioritize data security. We implement the best security practices including ZTA, so that our client applications not only meet industry standards but also provides a safe platform for their users. Visit us at www.aarkasolutions.com / www.aarkasolutions.in.

[otiskeene]

All You Need To Know About Zero Trust Architecture

Have you ever seen the meme "Trust No One, Not Even Yourself"? It’s a humorous image where a teen is pointing a gun at his own clone, symbolizing the ultimate distrust. While it’s a funny take, it touches on a serious point—there are always two kinds of people, those you can trust and those you can’t.

In business, this idea is taken seriously. Companies operate on what's called a Zero Trust principle. It’s not about distrust, but about acknowledging that trust inherently comes with risks. Every businessperson knows growth is all about managing risks wisely.

To do this, businesses implement something known as Zero Trust Architecture. Sounds complex? It’s actually fascinating, so let’s dive into what this architecture is, how it operates, and why it’s so crucial. Keep reading to learn more!

Think about the security lock on your phone. Whether it’s a pattern, PIN, fingerprint, or face lock, it's there for protection, right? (Don’t worry, we’re not asking for your password—never share that with anyone!)

With everything we do on our smartphones—banking, messaging, storing personal photos—security is vital. And it’s not just our phones; remote work and cloud storage have also made our data vulnerable to hackers and cybercriminals.

Traditional security measures like firewalls and VPNs are helpful but not foolproof. Accidental data leaks from employees or compromised devices within a network are real threats.

That’s where the Zero Trust principle comes in. It’s a cybersecurity concept that means, "Never trust, always verify." In a Zero Trust environment, no user or device is trusted automatically, even within the network. Every access request is individually verified using multiple factors.

Before diving deeper into its importance and operation, let’s first understand what Zero Trust Architecture really is.

[pjoshi12]

Maximize Your Growth: Unlock The Power Of Zero Trust Architecture

Boosting Scalability and Growth: The Quantifiable Impact of Zero Trust Architecture on Organizations

Amid rising security breaches, the limitations of traditional cybersecurity models highlight the need for a robust, adaptive framework. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), operating on the principle of "trust no one, verify everything," offers enhanced protection aligned with modern tech trends like remote work and IoT. This article explores ZTA's core components, implementation strategies, and transformative impacts for stronger cyber defenses.

Understanding Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture is a cybersecurity strategy that revolves around the belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside their perimeters. Instead, they must verify anything and everything by trying to connect to its systems before granting access. This approach protects modern digital environments by leveraging network segmentation, preventing lateral movement, providing Layer 7 threat prevention, and simplifying granular user-access control.

Core Principles of Zero Trust

Explicit Verification: Regardless of location, every user, device, application, and data flow is authenticated and authorized under the strictest possible conditions. This ensures that security does not rely on static, network-based perimeters.

Least Privilege Access: Users are only given access to the resources needed to perform their job functions. This minimizes the risk of attackers accessing sensitive data through compromised credentials or insider threats.

Micro-segmentation: The network is divided into secure zones, and security controls are enforced on a per-segment basis. This limits an attacker's ability to move laterally across the network.

Continuous Monitoring: Zero Trust systems continuously monitor and validate the security posture of all owned and associated devices and endpoints. This helps detect and respond to threats in real-time.

Historical Development

With the advent of mobile devices, cloud technology, and the dissolution of conventional perimeters, Zero Trust offered a more realistic model of cybersecurity that reflects the modern, decentralized network environment.

Zero Trust Architecture reshapes how we perceive and implement cybersecurity measures in an era where cyber threats are ubiquitous and evolving. By understanding these foundational elements, organizations can better plan and transition towards a Zero Trust model, reinforcing their defenses against sophisticated cyber threats comprehensively and adaptively.

The Need for Zero Trust Architecture

No matter how spooky the expression 'zero trust' might sound, we must address that the rapidly advancing technology landscape dramatically transformed how businesses operate, leading to new vulnerabilities and increasing the complexity of maintaining secure environments. The escalation in frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks necessitates a shift from traditional security models to more dynamic, adaptable frameworks like Zero Trust Architecture. Here, we explore why this shift is not just beneficial but essential.

Limitations of Traditional Security Models

Traditional security models often operate under the premise of a strong perimeter defense, commonly referred to as the "castle-and-moat" approach. This method assumes that threats can be kept out by fortifying the outer defenses. However, this model falls short in several ways:

Perimeter Breach: Once a breach occurs, the attacker has relatively free reign over the network, leading to potential widespread damage.

Insider Threats: It inadequately addresses insider threats, where the danger comes from within the network—either through malicious insiders or compromised credentials.

Network Perimeter Dissolution: The increasing adoption of cloud services and remote workforces has blurred the boundaries of traditional network perimeters, rendering perimeter-based defenses less effective.

Rising Cybersecurity Challenges

Traditional security models often operate under the premise of a strong perimeter defense, commonly referred to as the "castle-and-moat" approach. This method assumes that threats can be kept out by fortifying the outer defenses. However, this model falls short in several ways:

Increased Data Breaches: Recently, annual data breaches exploded, with billions of records being exposed each year, affecting organizations of all sizes.

Cost of Data Breaches: The average cost of a data breach has risen, significantly impacting the financial health of affected organizations.

Zero Trust: The Ultimate Response to Modern Challenges

Zero Trust Architecture arose to address the vulnerabilities inherent in modern network environments:

Remote Work: With more talent working remotely, traditional security boundaries became obsolete. Zero Trust ensures secure access regardless of location.

Cloud Computing: As more data and applications move to the cloud, Zero Trust provides rigorous access controls that secure cloud environments effectively.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

Zero Trust's continuous verification model is ideal for detecting and mitigating sophisticated attacks that employ long-term infiltration strategies.

The Shift to Zero Trust

Organizations increasingly recognize the limitations of traditional security measures and shift towards Zero Trust principles. Several needs drive this transition:

Enhance Security Posture:Implement robust, flexible security measures that adapt to the evolving IT landscape.

Minimize Attack Surfaces:Limit the potential entry points for attackers, thereby reducing overall risk.

Improve Regulatory Compliance

Meet stringent data protection regulations that demand advanced security measures.

In the face of ever-evolving threats and changing business practices, it becomes clear that Zero Trust Architecture goes beyond a simple necessity.

By adopting Zero Trust, not only can organizations stand tall against current threats more effectively but also position themselves to adapt to future challenges in the cybersecurity landscape. This proactive approach is critical to maintaining the integrity and resilience of modern digital enterprises.

Critical Components of Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) redefines security by systematically addressing the challenges of a modern digital ecosystem. Architecture comprises several vital components that ensure robust protection against internal and external threats. Understanding these components provides insight into how Zero Trust operates and why it is effective.

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

A cornerstone of Zero Trust is Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), which enhances security by requiring multiple proofs of identity before granting access. Unlike traditional security that might rely solely on passwords, MFA can include a combination of:

By integrating MFA, organizations significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access due to credential theft or simple password breaches.

Least Privilege Access Control

At the heart of the Zero Trust model is the principle of least privilege, which dictates that users and devices only get the minimum access necessary for their specific roles. This approach limits the potential damage from compromised accounts and reduces the attack surface within an organization. Implementing the least privilege requires:

Rigorous user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) to understand typical access patterns.

Dynamic policy enforcement to adapt permissions based on the changing context and risk level.

Microsegmentation

Microsegmentation divides network resources into separate, secure zones. Each zone requires separate authentication and authorization to access, which prevents an attacker from moving laterally across the network even if they breach one segment. This strategy is crucial in minimizing the impact of an attack by:

Isolating critical resources and sensitive data from broader network access.

Applying tailored security policies specific to each segment's function and sensitivity.

Continuous Monitoring and Validation

Zero Trust insists on continuously monitoring and validating all devices and user activities within its environment. This proactive stance ensures that anomalies or potential threats are quickly identified and responded to. Key aspects include:

Real-time threat detection using advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI.

Automated response protocols that can isolate threats and mitigate damage without manual intervention.

Device Security

In Zero Trust, security extends beyond the user to their devices. Every device attempting to access resources must be secured and authenticated, including:

The assurance that devices meet security standards before they can connect.

Continuously assessing device health to detect potential compromises or anomalies.

Integration of Security Policies and Governance

Implementing Zero Trust requires a cohesive integration of security policies and governance frameworks that guide the deployment and operation of security measures. This integration helps in:

Standardizing security protocols across all platforms and environments.

Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Implementing Zero Trust Components.

Implementing Zero Trust involves assessing needs, defining policies, and integrating solutions, requiring cross-departmental collaboration. This proactive approach creates a resilient security posture, adapting to evolving threats and transforming security strategy.

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a strategic endeavor that requires careful planning, a detailed understanding of existing systems, and a clear roadmap for integration. Here's a comprehensive guide to deploying Zero Trust in an organization, ensuring a smooth transition and security enhancements to ensure a practical realization.

Step 1: Define the Protect Surface

The first step in implementing Zero Trust is to identify and define the 'protect surface'—the critical data, assets, applications, and services that need protection. Such an implementation will involve the following:

Data Classification: Identify where sensitive data resides, how it moves, and who accesses it.

Asset Management: Catalog and manage hardware, software, and network resources to understand the full scope of the digital environment.

Step 2: Map Transaction Flows

Understanding how data and requests flow within the network is crucial. Mapping transaction flows helps in the following:

Identifying legitimate traffic patterns: This aids in designing policies that allow normal business processes while blocking suspicious activities.

Establishing baselines for network behavior: Anomalies from these baselines can be quickly detected and addressed.

Step 3: Architect a Zero Trust Network

With a clear understanding of the protected surface and transaction flows, the next step is to design the network architecture based on Zero Trust principles:

Microsegmentation: Design network segments based on the sensitivity and requirements of the data they contain.

Least Privilege Access Control: Implement strict access controls and enforce them consistently across all environments.

Step 4: Create a Zero Trust Policy

Zero Trust policies dictate how identities and devices access resources, including:

Policy Engine Creation: Develop a policy engine that uses dynamic security rules to make access decisions based on the trust algorithm.

Automated Rules and Compliance: Utilize automation to enforce policies efficiently and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Step 5: Monitor and Maintain

Zero Trust requires ongoing evaluation and adaptation to remain effective. Continuous monitoring and maintenance involve:

Advanced Threat Detection: Use behavioral analytics, AI, and machine learning to detect and respond to anomalies in real-time.

Security Posture Assessment: Regularly assess the security posture to adapt to new threats and incorporate technological advancements.

Feedback Loops: Establish mechanisms to learn from security incidents and continuously improve security measures.

Step 6: Training and Culture Change

Implementing Zero Trust affects all aspects of an organization and requires a shift in culture and mindset:

Comprehensive Training: Educate staff about the principles of Zero Trust, their roles within the system, and the importance of security in their daily activities.

Promote Security Awareness: Foster a security-first culture where all employees are vigilant and proactive about security challenges.

Challenges in Implementation

The transition to Zero Trust is not without its challenges:

Complexity in Integration: Integrating Zero Trust with existing IT and legacy systems can be complex and resource-intensive.

Resistance to Change: Operational disruptions and skepticism from stakeholders can impede progress.

Cost Implications: Initial setup, especially in large organizations, can be costly and require significant technological and training investments.

Successfully implementing Zero Trust Architecture demands a comprehensive approach beyond technology, including governance, behavior change, and continuous improvement. By following these steps, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity defenses and build a more resilient and adaptive security posture equipped to handle the threats of a dynamic digital world.

Impact and Benefits of Zero Trust Architecture

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has far-reaching implications for an organization's cybersecurity posture. This section evaluates the tangible impacts and benefits that Zero Trust provides, supported by data-driven outcomes and real-world applications.

Reducing the Attack Surface

Zero Trust minimizes the organization's attack surface by enforcing strict access controls and network segmentation. With the principle of least privilege, access is granted only based on necessity, significantly reducing the potential pathways an attacker can exploit.

Statistical Impact

Organizations employing Zero Trust principles have observed a marked decrease in the incidence of successful breaches. For instance, a report by Forrester noted that Zero Trust adopters saw a 30% reduction in security breaches.

Case Study

A notable financial institution implemented Zero Trust strategies and reduced the scope of breach impact by 40%, significantly lowering their incident response and recovery costs.

Enhancing Regulatory Compliance

Zero Trust aids in compliance with stringent data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS by providing robust mechanisms to protect sensitive information and report on data access and usage.

Compliance Metrics

Businesses that transition to Zero Trust report higher compliance rates, with improved audit performance due to better visibility and control over data access and usage.

Improving Detection and Response Times

The continuous monitoring component of Zero Trust ensures that anomalies are detected swiftly, enabling quicker response to potential threats. This dynamic approach helps in adapting to emerging threats more effectively.

Operational Efficiency

Studies show that organizations using Zero Trust frameworks have improved their threat detection and response times by up to 50%, enhancing operational resilience.

Cost-Effectiveness

While the initial investment in Zero Trust might be considerable, the architecture can lead to significant cost savings in the long term through reduced breach-related costs and more efficient IT operations.

Economic Benefits

Analysis indicates that organizations implementing Zero Trust save on average 30% in incident response costs due to the efficiency and efficacy of their security operations.

Future-Proofing Security

Zero Trust architectures aim to be flexible and adaptable, which makes them particularly suited to evolving alongside emerging technologies and changing business models, thus future-proofing an organization's security strategy.

Strategic Advantage

Adopting Zero Trust provides a strategic advantage in security management, positioning organizations to quickly adapt to new technologies and business practices without compromising security.

The impacts and benefits of Zero Trust Architecture make a compelling case for its adoption. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the principles of Zero Trust provide a resilient and adaptable framework that addresses current security challenges and anticipates future threats. By embracing Zero Trust, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture, ensuring robust defense mechanisms that scale with their growth and technological advancements.

Future Trends and Evolution of Zero Trust

With digital transformation emerges highly sophisticated cybersecurity threats pushing Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) to evolve in response to these dynamic challenges. In this final section, we explore future Zero Trust trends, their ongoing development, and the potential challenges organizations may face as they continue to implement this security model.

Evolution of Zero Trust Principles

Zero Trust is not a static model and must continuously be refined as new technologies and threat vectors emerge. Critical areas of evolution include:

Integration with Emerging Technologies

As organizations increasingly adopt technologies like 5G, IoT, and AI, Zero Trust principles must be adapted to secure these environments effectively. For example, the proliferation of IoT devices increases the attack surface, necessitating more robust identity verification and device security measures within a Zero Trust framework.

Advanced Threat Detection Using AI

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will play pivotal roles in enhancing the predictive capabilities of zero-trust systems. AI can analyze vast amounts of data to detect patterns and anomalies that signify potential threats, enabling proactive threat management and adaptive response strategies.

Challenges in Scaling Zero Trust

As Zero Trust gains visibility, organizations may encounter several challenges:

Future Research and Standardization

Continued research and standardization efforts are needed to address gaps in Zero Trust methodologies and to develop best practices for their implementation. Industry collaboration and partnerships will be vital in creating standardized frameworks that effectively guide organizations in adopting Zero Trust.

Developing Zero Trust Maturity Models

Future efforts could focus on developing maturity models that help organizations assess their current capabilities and guide their progression toward more advanced Zero Trust implementations.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

As Zero Trust impacts data privacy and security, future legal frameworks must consider how Zero Trust practices align with global data protection regulations. Ensuring compliance while implementing Zero Trust will be an ongoing challenge.

The future of Zero Trust Architecture is one of continual adaptation and refinement. By staying ahead of technological advancements and aligning with emerging security trends, Zero Trust can provide organizations with a robust framework capable of defending against the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats of the digital age. As this journey unfolds, embracing Zero Trust will enhance security and empower organizations to innovate and grow confidently.

Concluding Thoughts:

As cyber threats keep evolving, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) emerges as the most effective cybersecurity strategy, pivotal for safeguarding organizational assets in an increasingly interconnected world. The implementation of Zero Trust not only enhances security postures but also prompts a significant shift in organizational culture and operational frameworks. How will integrating advanced technologies like AI and blockchain influence the evolution of zero-trust policies? Can Zero Trust principles keep pace with the rapid expansion of IoT devices across corporate networks?

Furthermore, questions about their scalability and adaptability remain at the forefront as Zero Trust principles evolve. How will organizations overcome the complexities of deploying Zero Trust across diverse and global infrastructures? Addressing these challenges and questions will be crucial for organizations that leverage Zero Trust Architecture effectively.

How Coditude can help you

For businesses looking to navigate the complexities of Zero Trust and fortify their cybersecurity measures, partnering with experienced technology providers like Coditude offers a reassuring pathway to success. Coditude's expertise in cutting-edge security solutions can help demystify Zero Trust implementation and tailor a strategy that aligns with your business objectives. Connect with Coditude today to secure your digital assets and embrace the future of cybersecurity with confidence.

[techit-rp]

How Zero-Trust Security Architecture is Changing Cybersecurity Strategies

Traditional security models can no longer suffice to safeguard sensitive data and systems in a time when cyber threats are rising exponentially. Step into Zero-Trust Security Architecture, an emerging trend that's transforming cybersecurity practices within the boundaries of all types of industries. Contrary to conventional perimeter-based security models, Zero-Trust adheres strictly to the principle of "never trust, always verify.". This blog discusses how Zero-Trust is changing the face of cybersecurity and why cybersecurity professionals should also enroll in suitable cybersecurity courses to be masters in such a contemporary framework.

Understanding Zero-Trust Security Architecture

Zero-Trust Security is a zero-trust strategy for cybersecurity that eliminates implicit trust and dynamically verifies the identity of users and security of devices before authorizing access to their resources. The fundamental tenets of Zero-Trust include:

Continuous Verification: All users, devices, and applications must be continuously authenticated and authorized before accessing the system.

Least Privilege Access: Accesses are given to only the level necessary to complete the task at hand.

Micro-Segmentation: Networks segmented into smaller and secure pieces to minimize the lateral movement of cyber threats.

Assume Breach: The essence of Zero-Trust lies in the fact that it assumes security breaches can happen, so it proactively implements real-time monitoring and anomaly detection.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use of strong authentication mechanisms such as biometrics or one-time passwords to authenticate the users.

Why Traditional Security Models Are Failing

Perimeter-based security is the basis for traditional security models, assuming attacks come from external sources. This is not how modern cyberattacks work; insiders, phishing attacks, and other sophisticated malware will bypass traditional defense mechanisms. If an attacker does breach a system, they may move laterally, compromising assets before detection occurs. This outmoded model has resulted in devastating data breaches in organizations all over the globe, making a shift to Zero-Trust an imperative.

Zero-Trust Transforms Cybersecurity Strategies

Cloud Security

With the advent of cloud computing, companies no longer operate within one network perimeter. Zero-Trust ensures secure access to cloud environments by verifying each request before accessing them, avoiding unauthorized data breach.

Securing the Remote Work Place

Remote and hybrid work have increased cyber vulnerability. Zero-Trust authenticates every connection which reduces the probability of unauthorized access and data leakage for remote workers.

Insider Threat Avoidance

External hacking is not the only risk threat to organizations: insider threats-the employees or even contractors who work for the companies and have some access to company data. The Zero-Trust model minimizes these risks with reduced access and continuous monitoring for anomalies in behavior.

Mitigating Ransomware and Advanced Threats

There are ransomware attacks that become the most threatening cyber attacks ever. Zero-Trust uses live monitoring and artificial intelligence anomaly detection to identify, neutralize and prevent damage due to threats within minutes.

Automating Threat Detection and Response

AI and machine learning play a crucial role in modern Zero-Trust models. Automated threat detection and response systems continuously scan networks for suspicious activity, significantly reducing the time to detect and mitigate cyber threats.

Why Cybersecurity Professionals Should Master Zero-Trust

With the increased adoption of Zero-Trust Security, the demand for cybersecurity experts who have knowledge in this framework has become high. Through cybersecurity courses, professionals can become proficient in the following areas:

Implementation of Zero-Trust strategies in enterprise environments

Configuration of identity and access management (IAM) systems

Deployment of Zero-Trust security solutions such as endpoint security and micro-segmentation

Understanding compliance regulations on Zero-Trust, such as NIST 800-207

Conclusion

Zero-Trust Security Architecture is revolutionizing the way organizations approach cybersecurity, offering a robust, proactive defense against modern threats. As cyberattacks grow more sophisticated, the need for skilled professionals in this domain is greater than ever. Investing in cybersecurity courses can provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to implement Zero-Trust effectively, securing a promising career in cybersecurity.

[sceletaflores]

HEY THERE SUGAR BABY!

|| pedro masterlist || update blog || inbox || taglist || ao3 ||

ೃ⁀➷ PAIR: Harry Castillo x fem!reader

ೃ⁀➷ WC: 10k

ೃ⁀➷ CONTAINS: 18+ SMUT MDNI, swearing, smoking, drinking, boss/employee relationship, reader is a personal/executive assistant, very much a work husband/work wife dynamic, inescapable sugar daddy tendencies, no actual sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship despite how the title and previous tag makes it sound lmao, harry castillo is a cool boss, romcom tropes cause i’m feeling romantic, slow dancing, first kiss, heavy petting in a limo, oral sex (fem!receiving), multiple orgasms, p in v, porn with way too much fucking plot, no use of y/n.

ೃ⁀➷ NAT’S NOTE: i usually don’t like to write for a new character before i’ve watched the movie but you dangle the idea of a hot billionaire work romance in my face and expect me not to bite at it? i’m just not that strong. also i have zero idea what his actual job in the movie is, i think it’s a basic ass finance bro wall street type job and that bores the hell out of me so he’s an architect because i said so. he's my barbie i can make him do what i want! this whole thing was mainly an excuse to write about my satc, carrie and big vibe slash fantasy but way less toxic. hope y’all love it, mwah!

ೃ⁀➷ NAT’S HEADPHONES: MATERIAL GIRL - Phlotilla

dividers by angel @saradika-graphics!

an architect and his assistant walk into a gala…

You’ve been working with Harry Castillo for four years, two months, and thirteen days.

You know this because his calendar starts and ends with you.

Your name’s not embossed on the front of the seventy story building sitting pretty on 57th street, not splashed across the cover of Architectural Digest, not signed neatly at the bottom of those pristine renderings that get passed around in glass boardrooms and land multi-million dollar deals.

But you know the build order of every project in the past five fiscal years. You know which of the project managers can’t be trusted with deadlines, which board members need their egos stroked, and every single name attached to each of the contracts spanning across five continents.

You were three years out of school and six months into a soul sucking accounting job that felt more like glorified coffee-fetching with a minor in emotional labor when Harry called. 

Well—technically, his HR director called, but Harry noticed you, or noticed your resume stacked with respectable internships and juicy recommendation letters. Or maybe it was the fact that during your third round interview, you corrected one of his junior partners on a misquoted quarterly budget breakdown.

Either way, two weeks later you were standing in a glass top floor office owned by one of the most powerful men in the city. 

And yes, you knew who he was before he hired you, of course you did.

Harry had been New York’s golden boy since the early aughts, when his first building went up in Tribeca and every magazine with a spine declared him the second coming of Frank Llyod Wright.

He was a genius, innovative. One of the youngest Pritzker Prize winners in history who got the kind of press coverage that made people think “architect” was synonymous with “celebrity”.

Now, at 47, Harry Castillo is an institution in the world of design.

Castillo Atelier is the best firm in the city, maybe even in the world, depending on which Real Estate Digest cover story you read. His name alone makes most clients practically foam at the mouth and drop seven figures without seeing a single blueprint.

You’ve been his executive assistant longer than it took you to get your shiny Business Administrations degree from Colombia, and if anyone knew Harry better than his mother or his therapist, it was you.

You have every number of his black American Express card memorized, front and back. You have every password to every account imaginable tucked away neatly in a file labeled “BLACKMAIL MATERIAL” on your desktop. 

You schedule his life down to the minute, from site visits in Abu Dhabi to dental cleanings in Midtown. You know his shoe size, the name of his best tailor's teenage daughter, which marble supplier he trusts in Verona. You know the entry code to his West Village brownstone and you’re on a first name basis with the doorman at his Fifth Avenue penthouse. 

You know he drinks his coffee black but only before noon and he switches to espresso, that he smokes Marlboro Golds even though he swears up and down he’s quit, and that when he’s stressed, he starts sketching towers with spiral staircases that’ll never pass code.

It’s morphed into a strange kind of intimacy. Not romantic, but not exactly a normal boss-employee relationship either. 

He's the kind of boss who makes you want to roll your eyes at the word, because it's not that simple—not that sterile.

It's late nights spent in his dimly lit office where he sheds his suit jacket and hands you a perfectly poured wine glass without asking when you're the only two left in the building. It's sitting shoulder to shoulder on a leather couch, going over zoning permits while his arm rests behind you, not on you, but close enough to count.

Harry’s careful with you, in a way that’s not always obvious. He buys you the books you idly mention wanting to read in passing and custom David Yurman earrings fitted with your birthstone. If he was ten years younger and you were ten years dumber, you might’ve mistaken it for something else. 

As it is, you just tell yourself he likes spoiling things that work well. Like his thousand dollar espresso machine. Like his Aston Martin. Like you.

You should feel like an accessory.

Instead, you feel like a centerpiece—like you’re the sun that his life revolves around. 

You can’t tell which is worse.

Today, like most days, starts with you getting to the office an hour before him.

You take the elevator up to the seventy third floor, unlock his office, and flick on the lights. The space is gorgeous, minimalist in a way that doesn’t ever feel cold. Floor to ceiling windows, sleek dark wood floors, and exposed beams. 

There’s an open notebook on his desk from the night before, a few handwritten notes scrawled in sharp, narrow pen strokes that he gave up on halfway through and started sketching in the margins.

You roll your eyes, smothering a fond smile as you walk out of the room and to your own desk. It’s less than six feet from his door, close enough that you can always hear clipped phone calls or the soft sounds of Prince playing from his sound system.

You drop your bag, start up your desktop, and begin triaging the day. Your inbox is in a constant state of full to the brim no matter how good you are at your job—bursting with emails from developers, calendar shifts, a client breakfast cancellation. 

The whole office smells like bergamot and bergdorf. Someone sent over a Diptyque candle and Harry hasn’t stopped lighting it. Luckily for you, it’s strong enough to keep the scent of lemony luxury permeating long after it’s been blown out. 

It’s still not enough to magically cancel out the stress of pushy demands disguised as business and city bureaucracy, but you can still pretend it is.

You’re bouncing between five open tabs and sending increasingly frantic texts to the head of operations about a late shipment of imported glass by the time you finally hear a soft ding from the elevator followed by crisp footsteps coming your way.

Harry rounds the corner holding a pastry bag, Ray-Bans on, hair still wet from the shower and curling around his ears. “Good morning, sunshine.”

You don’t look up from your screen. “You’re late again.”

“No,” Harry tuts, leaning his hip against your desk and dropping the bag in front of you. “You’re just early.”

“I work here.”

“Funny, so do I.”

“Do you?” You finally look up, brow arched. “I forget.”

He’s wearing that suit. The one that makes your job harder in the most inappropriate HR violating ways. Deep blue pinstripe with the burgundy Gucci tie you handpicked last year. It’s fitted like it had been tailored by the hands of God.

He tilts his head, peering at you over the edge of his glasses. “Is that any way to treat the man who bought you breakfast?”

Your eyes cut to the white paper bag, Mah-Ze-Dahr. You don’t need to look inside it to know what it is, a twenty dollar pistachio crunch croissant. Your favorite.

You don’t have time to respond before Harry drops his glasses on your desk, settling into the chair across from you. “Remind me never to take a meeting in Soho before noon again.”

You set the bag aside and continue typing with a soft shake of your head. “You said that last week, and the week before that.”

“And yet I keep doing it.” He rolls his head on his shoulders with a soft sigh. “That’s insanity, isn’t it? Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.”

“That’s Einstein,” you say, pointedly ignoring the way he’s looking at you. “Maybe you just like the punishment.”

Harry huffs, amused. “I pay you too much to psychoanalyze me.”

You open a new tab, click on a high priority labeled email and turn your screen in his direction. “Yet you don’t pay me enough to deal with your ex-wife’s lawyer hassling me before seven.”

That certainly gets his attention, his spine straightening as he leans forward, squinting at your screen. “She didn’t.”

You nod, resting your chin on your palm as his eyes flit over the lengthy body. “She did.”

You watched the divorce unfold like everyone else. It was loud, expensive, and painfully public. She was a former model turned gallery owner with a sharp tongue and better connections than half the industry. When she aired Harry out in New York Magazine the tabloids had a fucking field day.

The headlines were vicious. Castillo’s Castle Crumbles. From Manhattan’s Favorite Power Couple to Demolition Duo. Architect of His Own Downfall?

“Christ.” Harry sighs, leaning back and running a hand through his hair. “She promised she’d keep you out of this.”

“She lied.” You turn your screen back around, grabbing a pen to quickly scrawl the lawyer’s number across the front of a Post-It. “She wants her name off the Lakewood project or she’ll go to the press about the Montauk property.”

He drags a hand down his face, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fucking hell.”

You slide the Post-It note across the desk. “Don’t shoot the messenger.” 

He doesn’t thank you, not out loud, but the way his eyes linger on the note before he tucks it into his jacket pocket says enough.

“I don’t deserve you,” he says, and it’s almost a throwaway comment—but his voice dips a little, gets low in that way that always makes you want to chew glass or scream into a designer throw pillow.

You shrug. “You say that a lot, but I don’t see any new raises.”

His grin is lazy, charming. “You know I’d bankrupt this company to keep you.”

You roll your eyes so hard it should count as cardio. “Please don’t. I like having dental.”

Harry laughs—really laughs—and it’s unfair how good it sounds, how it worms under your skin and stays there.

You turn away, forcing the warm feeling in your stomach to the back of your mind, and pivot. “You have a conference call with Dubai at eleven, lunch with the Fairstein developers at Cipriani, and there’s some plans in the Berlin file that still need to be signed.”

Harry nods once, shifting into business mode at the drop of a hat. “Well, I’ve got my marching orders.”

He checks his watch, stands, and straightens his jacket with a lazy kind of grace. You hate the way your eyes catch on the curve of his wrist, the way the cufflink glints in the morning light. Custom Cartier, a gift from some foreign diplomat client last Christmas. You remember because you signed for the delivery. Wrapped it, even.

Just before he steps into his office, he pauses. “I mean it.” His voice softens, and for a flicker of a moment, he looks at you like he’s trying to tell you something without saying it out loud. “This place doesn’t work without you.”

You glance up, heart skipping in your chest, ready with some practiced quip, but he’s already gone—door shut, his silhouette framed behind the frosted glass like a shadow you can’t shake.

This is how it always is—business talk sugarcoated in flirtation, or flirtation buried under years of knowing exactly how the other one works. If he weren’t who he is, and if you weren’t so damn good at ignoring how often he looks at your mouth when you talk, it might’ve gone somewhere dangerous already.

Instead, it lives in the margins. Like the ones he doodles spiral towers into. Like the ones in the secret planner buried in the very bottom drawer of you desk where you write down things like:

Remind Harry to eat something before 3.

Book flights for Hong Kong.

Don’t fall in love with your boss.

That last one’s underlined. Twice.

The rest of the morning floats by, you busy yourself with three different screens and sporadic bites of croissant and sips of coffee until one of the newer interns shows up with the mail.

You thank her and flip through the small mountain of envelopes until one catches your eye. A sleek black one with loopy silver lettering on the front. To Castillo Atelier, with a familiar logo stamped on the corner. You rip the gold seal, and slip the card out.

The AIA New York Chapter cordially invites Harry Castillo & Guest to the prestigious 2025 Architecture Gala | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Black Tie.

You blink, and read it three more times before a deep sigh rips itself from somewhere deep in your chest. You skim the rest, going over fine print and steadily sighing louder the more you take it in.

You really should have known, it’s around that time. Award season, charity galas, old rich people stuff. Only this year, Harry Castillo and Guest are in separate states, in separate houses, and very much not on speaking terms.

Nor will they be on them in time for Friday night, or any other night in the foreseeable future.

You stand, letter in hand. Your heels click against the floor until you’re standing just outside Harry’s office, mulling over how bad it would reflect on your part if the invitation mysteriously found its way to the bottom of your trash. You knock anyway.

“Come in,” came the reply—his voice low, rough like it always is after the lunch rush, like velvet dragged over concrete. 

You stepped inside, closing the door behind you with a soft click.

Harry is at his desk, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, Dior frames perched halfway down his nose as he looms over the stack of blueprints you left on his desk a few hours ago.

You don’t let yourself look at the tan column of his neck as you lean against the door. “You got a minute.”

He looks up, relaxing in his chair. “For you? Always.”

You hold up the invitation like it’s a warrant, shaking it gently. “You’ve been summoned.”

Harry’s eyes bounce from your own to the thick card stock, you watch the recognition register in his eyes. He sighs, “The gala.”

You nod, crossing your feet in front of you. “You’re being honored.”

He shakes his head with a laugh. “I was hoping they’d forget about me.”

Who possibly could?

You arch your brow. “It’s a lifetime achievement award.”

“I’m not even fifty.”

“Apparently, they’ve run out of old white men to honor.”

Harry chuckles, but it’s a tired sound. He rubs slow circles over his temples, tousling the salt and pepper hair scattered there. “Tell them we’re busy, send a fruit basket.”

You can’t explain the feeling that floods your chest, a mix of something like compassion and pity. It makes your heart ache, just a little bit. Enough to make you really feel it, enough to make you bury it before you can really dwell on why it hurts so much.

Harry puts on a spectacular front, but you know him too well. You know that the divorce has weighed on him, that’s it made him question himself. You know it was a massive shot to his self esteem, as both a person and as a company. 

You also know deep down it’s not the company that you care about.

“No.” You shake your head, making your way over to his desk.

He looks up at you, brow raised. “No?”

“No,” you emphasize, setting the invitation down on his desk. “You may think this is pointless, and that you’re too young—”

“Watch it.”

“—But you deserve this,” you finish, tapping a manicured nail on the card. “You deserve a whole room full of people fawning over you for no reason other than the fact that you’re you.”

Harry's eyes find yours again, slower this time. He doesn’t say anything at first. He just looks at you—really looks at you. And for a second, it’s too much. Too focused, too quiet, too…tender. It’s the kind of look that makes your skin prickle, your stomach twist. 

But you don’t flinch under the weight of his stare. You never do.

He leans forward, resting his arms on the desk. “Okay.”

You blink. “Okay?”

“Okay.” He nods, lacing his fingers together. “I’ll go.”

It feels anticlimactic somehow. You expected more of a fight—more pushback or maybe even a snide comment about black tie events like this becoming less about the accolades and the charity and more about new wave firms bustling around like show ponies scuffling over who signed the best contract with the most zeros tacked neatly on the end.

Instead, he just says okay. Like it’s simple. Like you aren’t the reason he’s saying yes.

You narrow your eyes at him, suspicious. “Just like that?”

“You make a compelling case." Harry shrugs, reaching for the invitation. “Besides, you know I love it when you compliment me.”

You huff, shaking your head, but you can’t fight the smile that tugs at the corners of your mouth as you lean on his desk. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So I’ve been told.” Harry nods, but he’s smiling wide enough to outdo your own.

He looks down at the invitation, scanning over the text languidly. He hums as he reads, dragging his thumb across the raised font. 

You let yourself watch him, cataloging all the details you’ve already memorized a thousand times. Your eyes trace the shape of his brows, the deep set lines that fan out from the corners of his eyes, the strong arch of his nose, the soft curve of his lips.

When he’s done, he taps it against his palm once and looks back at you. “And who, pray tell, is coming as my guest?”

You tilt your head. “I can get you someone,” you offer, even if the words make your stomach churn as you say them. “You want blonde or brunette? Bashful debutante or discreet NDA?”

Harry doesn't answer right away.

He leans back in his chair, looking at you like you're a puzzle he’s not quite finished solving. Like you’re a building he’s still sketching, still drafting, still trying to figure out if the foundation can handle the weight of what he wants to build on top of it.

“I don’t want someone,” he says finally.

The words land softer than you expect, but they still hit like a hammer to the chest.

“You should bring someone,” you deflect, professional, clean. “It’ll look good. The press will be there.”

“I’m aware,” he says, still watching you. “Which is why I don’t want just anyone.”

You don’t respond. You can’t. Not with the way his voice sounds—quiet, certain, threaded with a dangerous kind of warmth that makes your pulse kick.

Harry reaches up to slip his glasses off his face. “I don’t want someone,” he says again, voice even. “I want you.”

He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, like your pulse doesn’t trip itself up three times over.

You blink. Once. Twice. Then scoff, forcing a laugh. “Excuse me?”

“Come with me.” 

It’s too sincere, too heart stoppingly warm. 

Your stomach drops. Then flips. Then rises again in the same way an express elevator does at fifty floors a second. “Harry—”

He cuts you off. “Don’t make that face.” He points at you with his glasses, shaking his head. “You’ll look incredible in black tie. And I trust you more than any PR wrangled plus–one they’d set me up with.”

You shake your head, brows pinched. “This isn’t just some client dinner at Nobu I’m playing third wheel at, Harry. This is extremely important. It’s the goddamn Met for architects.”

Harry just smiles, squinting at you. “When have I ever let you feel like a third wheel?”

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I.”

You just stare at him, lost for words. The city buzzes beneath you, the familiar noise of traffic and life blending together.

Harry doesn’t look away, he keeps your gaze, quietly drumming his fingers along his desk. It’s infuriating, the way the setting sun bathes him in a soft golden light, illuminating the smile on his face. A smile that makes it clear he knows he’s already won.

It makes you hesitate, the weight of it. Because it would be a date. Maybe not on paper or by any certain labels—but in every meaningful, messy, deliciously complicated way it matters, it would be. 

Harry Castillo and guest, you filling the role perfectly. 

You hold his gaze for a few moments longer, dragging it out just enough to make it seem like you’re putting up a real fight.

Finally, you cross your arms over your chest with a low sigh. “Okay.”

He cocks his head, smug grin on his lips. “Okay?”

“Okay,” you repeat, raising a shoulder more casually than you feel. “I’ll go.”

“Really?” His tone is suspicious, but his smile doesn't budge. “There’s no catch?”

“You made a compelling case." You push off his desk, smoothing your hands down the front of your pencil skirt. “Besides, you know I love it when you compliment me.”

Harry laughs, a rich, warm sound. “I should’ve known.”

“I’ll need a dress,” you say, slowly making your way to the door. “I think the rest of the evening off should give me plenty of time to find one, don’t you agree, boss?”

Harry shakes his head, easy as anything. “I’ll take care of it.”

You pause, hand on the doorknob. “Tell me you’re not trying to play sugar daddy, the interns are already gossiping.”

He arches a brow. “If the shoe fits.”

“Harry.”

“Okay, okay.” He raises his hands in surrender, another laugh spilling from his chest to make the room just a few degrees warmer. “I’ll handle it. Trust me.”

You roll your eyes, pulling the door open before you do something stupid like smile back. “Do I really have a choice?”

Just as you go to leave, he calls your name—softly. It stops you mid-step.

You glance over your shoulder.

He doesn’t say anything else right away. Just looks at you like you’re something he’s still trying to figure out how to know, even after all this time.

“Thank you,” he says finally. Quiet. Sincere.

Your throat tightens. Not because of the words—even if you give him shit for it, he’s said them before—but because of the way he says them now. Like he means it for more than just the RSVP. Like he means it for staying. For putting up with the late nights, and the stress, and the divorce fallout, and the birthday gifts he forgets until the day of.

You nod, once. “You’re welcome.”

And then you slip out the door before the silence swells too much and gives you away.

You’re not in love with him. Not yet, but something about the way he looked at you—like you were both a solution and a problem—makes your chest ache in a way you don’t quite know how to ignore anymore.

You’ll go to the gala. You’ll wear something ridiculously expensive, if Harry has any say on the matter. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll let yourself enjoy it.

Just a little.

The package arrived that same night.

A man in a suit knocked on your door and had you sign for a box bigger than your work desk. He had to help you drag it into your hallway and denied the tip you tried to give him, assuring you it was already taken care of.

There were no labels on the box, no receipt or return address or anything other than an obnoxiously large gold bow wrapped neatly around all four sides.

Well, that and a note taped to the front. 

Your name was written in a familiar, looping handwriting that you’d recognize by touch alone. You peeled it off with careful fingers, and with more ceremony than necessary, flipped it open.

“Make them think I built you myself - H.”  

You stared at it for an embarrassingly long amount of time, not bothering to stifle the smile on your lips as you ran your thumb over the ink. You were alone anyway.

The box groaned a little when you finally opened it, layers of black tissue paper rustled softly as you peeled them back.

And there it was.

Midnight blue. Backless. Heavy silk. The kind of thing that knew how to behave under dim lights and the weight of eyes.

You could already feel it—how it would cling to your waist, slip along your thighs when you walked, turn your skin into something luminous. You didn’t even need a mirror.

Of course he picked this one. Of course he knew your size.

You reached for it, fingertips grazing the fabric like it might evaporate, still slightly dazed. There was an overwhelming aura about it—like this wasn’t just a dress, but a thesis.

A statement. An intention, signed and sealed in French seams.

And somehow it still smelled faintly of him. Not in a creepy way. In a way that made you wonder if he’d touched it before it left the boutique. If he’d looked at it and pictured you, just for a moment too long. If he’d smiled when he imagined what you’d say.

You unfolded it like you were handling a newborn, held it against your body and turned toward the hallway mirror, half laughing at yourself, heat rising to your cheeks.

You turned this way and that, staring at your reflection in the dim light, pretending—just for a second—that he was behind you, watching.

Your phone buzzed on the counter. One sharp vibration, tearing you out of your little fantasy world and back to the present.

You crossed the room still holding the dress to your chest, and bit your lip when you saw his name at the very top of your screen.

Hairy

Try not to cause a scene unless you want to make headlines. I’d like to keep your promotion rumor free, for now.

You laughed softly, thumb hovering above the keyboard for just a moment before you started typing.

You know this is deranged behavior, right?

You hit send before you could overthink it, watched the read receipt pop up a second later before the three little bubbles came to life.

They vanished, then reappeared.

Hairy

I’m aware.

But I have impeccable taste. That absolves me of quite a lot.

See you at 8.

You swore softly under your breath and set the phone down like it was overheating. 

You looked back at the dress. At the mirror.

God help you—you were going to wear the hell out of it.

Friday comes both too fast and too slow.

You glide through the whole rest of the week pretending this is normal—just another event, just another night of shaking hands and schmoozing.

You tell yourself it doesn't mean anything, but the butterflies in your stomach don’t listen quite as well.

You hardly see Harry at work, most of his time spent across town busy with clients like he always is near the end of the week. You can’t tell if it would have helped or hindered your nerves to see him before you both showed up to one of the most prestigious events held in his field, together. 

Maybe it’s better this way.

Now, you’ve spent the better part of the evening after work pacing the floor of your apartment in a silk robe, nerves reaching a fever pitch. 

Your phone is blowing up from its spot next to you on your vanity with calendar alerts and panicked texts from Harry about the misplacement of a single Prada tie he just has to wear even though he has hundreds of others to choose from lining an entire wall of his walk-in. You know that, you’re the one who hung them.

You do your hair and makeup on what feels like auto–pilot, the playlist you put on to distract you playing softly in the background until your phone lights up again, buzzing with a text that cuts through the static like a wire to your nerves.

Hairy

Found the tie, crisis averted. 

Just need you now. Be there in 15.

You take a deep breath, exhaling through your nose and sending a quick thumbs up before you're standing on shaky legs.

The dress has been hung safely on the back of your bedroom door since you unboxed it. You take a second to just stare at it, before reaching for it with reverence, like touching it too fast might break the spell of the whole evening. 

It slips from the hanger like water through your fingers, the fabric heavier than you remembered, or maybe that’s just the weight of new expectations.

You slide it on slowly, smoothing it over your hips, tugging the zipper up with a practiced hand. It fits perfectly, almost like it was made to your exact measurements.

Your reflection stares back at you in the mirror. You barely recognize her. Poised, elegant, flushed with anticipation. You look like someone who belongs next to a man like Harry Castillo.

The thought alone makes your pulse thrum a little faster.

You swipe on lipstick last—something deep and sultry, a few shades bolder than you usually wear, because tonight is different.

You’re not just the assistant tonight. You’re his date. Sort of. Kind of. Not really.

But he asked you to come, he wanted you there, with him.

The buzzer sounding from your door slices through your thoughts.

With one last deep breath, you grab your phone, your keys, and the clutch you’re borrowing from a fashion editor you sometimes get drunk with at Bemelmans, and you walk out the door.

The click of your heels echo as you make your way down the hall to the elevator.

Harry is the first thing you see as the doors to your building slide open.

He’s leaning against the limo waiting for you, the door open next to him as a cigarette dangles between his fingers. He looks like he stepped straight out of a GQ spread. His Kiton suit fits him like a glove, the charcoal velvet hugging broad shoulders and tapering at the waist like it was stitched directly onto him. 

You make your way down the stairs until you’re standing on the pavement. Harry looks up at the sound of footsteps.

The cigarette stops halfway to his mouth.

For a moment, he just stares.

You can feel his eyes on your body like a caress, ghosting from your heels all the way up to the Cartier necklace he bought you after you saved a merger in Thailand, resting gently on your collarbones. 

The silence stretches, taut like a violin string.

You clear your throat, fighting the urge to squirm on the spot. “Is it too much?”

Harry blinks, like the sound of your voice broke him out of a trance. “No,” he breathes, shaking his head distractedly. “It’s perfect.”

Your heart lurches in your chest, fluttering wildly like a Monarch trapped beneath a mason jar. “You don’t look half bad yourself, Castillo,” you murmur, trying for playful, but your voice comes out too soft, too breathy.

He smiles at that—slow, crooked, absolutely devastating. The kind of smile that makes your knees a little weaker than heels this high should allow.

“Well,” he says, flicking his cigarette into a nearby trash can. “We’re already late, we might as well make an entrance.”

Harry offers you his hand, and without thinking, you take it.

“We might as well.”

The Met is bathed in glowing opulence—decked in gold and white, chandeliers like constellations above you. There’s jazz swelling from a live quartet near the Temple of Dendur and the room comes alive with it.

You glide through marble halls on his arm, greeting developers and designers and too rich donors who want nothing more than to be photographed with nights' most respected attendant.

Harry is a natural here—effortless. He laughs, he charms, he plays the part of the adored genius.

You also play your role perfectly.

You smile. You exchange polite hugs and shake hands. You whisper names into his ear just before he needs them. 

The two of you work the room like a well oiled machine. Not a screw out of place.

“You do realize they all think I’m sleeping with you,” you murmur as you pass a table full of ancient structural engineers throwing pointed looks at the two of you.

“Let them,” he says, not missing a beat.

“Isn’t that bad for business?”

Harry looks at you sideways. “Who’s going to call us on it?”

You don’t answer. You don’t look away either.

There’s champagne, and a brief moment where a reporter mistakes you for his fiancée. Harry doesn’t correct her. You do, of course, all while violently fighting the heat crawling up your neck. You don’t miss the way his mouth quirks when you do.

Dinner is some overly fussed beet amuse-bouche followed by lamb you barely taste. You’re seated next to Harry at the center of a table surrounded by board members and art world fixtures who all speak in the same Upper East Side cadence that makes everything sound like a question and an insult.

But Harry listens to you. He lets you finish your thoughts. He asks you what you think of the new public art installation in Battery Park and snorts when you call it “egregiously derivative” even when the rest of the table frowns.

“You’re such a snob,” he murmurs, voice low against the shell of your ear.

You smile behind your glass. “And yet here I am, slumming it with my boss.”

He grins bright enough to rival the candle light. “Lucky me.”

At some point, about halfway through a debate about the authenticity of modernism in design, you notice the way his knee brushes against yours under the table and stays there. You don’t move. He doesn’t either.

It’s become a theme. The touch. The contact.

Harry kept his hand on the small of your back most of the night, it was practically glued to the spot before dinner began. This is no different, except for the fact that this touch is hidden. It's shielded from the prying eyes of members and photographers and reporters. 

It’s just for you.

The awards are handed out shortly after. 

Harry’s name echoes across the room to rounds and rounds of applause. The speech is short, tasteful, elegant, moving. He stands under a golden spotlight and says something about legacy, about cities and their hearts and how architecture is just the blueprint of human longing.

You watch him from your seat at the table, heart caught in your throat. He looks radiant on stage, confident and alive in a way you haven't seen in months.

You clap until your palms sting.

When the speech is over, he doesn't have a foot off the stage before many of the other attendees swarm him. You let out a slow breath as you watch him receive hugs and kisses and claps on the back.

You only slip out onto the terrace when everyone at your table has left to join in, clutch in hand.

The cool night breeze is a welcome escape, soothing as it blows across the bare expanse of your skin and seeps into the rich fabric of your dress.

It’s not that you weren’t enjoying yourself, that you weren’t enjoying watching Harry. You just found it, almost hard to breathe all of a sudden. The range of different emotions swirling through your stomach certainly didn’t help, but that was a problem you could repress and compartmentalize for sometime in the near future.

You’re maybe five minutes into your emergency cigarette when he finds you, your heels kicked off as you sit on a marble bench.

“You never smoke.” he says, setting his award down next to you and plucking the cigarette from between your fingers, taking his own slow drag. His lips seal directly over where your own were just a second ago, circling the ruddy lipstick stain wrapped around the filter.

You look out to the city, exhaling a steady stream grey. “I also don’t usually wear a custom made, six thousand dollar dress or fake laugh at old men who won’t stop calling me ‘darling’ while they openly stare at my tits.”

Harry hums at that, amused, the smoke curling lazily from his lips as he tips his head back to look at the sky. “You handled it like a pro, you were brilliant tonight.”

He holds out the cigarette, reddened embers float down from the tip, losing color as they fall until they’re nothing but a black speck on the pristine sea of white beneath your feet.

You take it, your fingers brushing against his. “I’m very good at pretending.”

His eyes shift to you, the kind of look in them that settles somewhere deep and heavy in your chest. “I know.”

There’s a beat of quiet between you, filled only by the wind brushing through the terrace hedges and the distant echo of jazz from inside. The city glimmers out past the railing, a mirage of light and motion.

You clear your throat, raising the cigarette to your lips. “You didn’t have to come find me.”

“I know,” he says again, softly this time. “But I wanted to.”

You turn to face him fully. “Because you couldn’t remember Natalie Rebuck’s name, or because you were worried I’d throw myself off the balcony?”

He doesn’t smile. He looks at you too seriously for either of those to be one off jokes. “Because you’re the only person I wanted to see.”

That stills everything in you. Just—stills it.

There’s nothing ironic about the way he says it. It’s not teasing, not playful. Just a quiet truth. And somehow, that’s more disarming than anything else he could’ve said.

“You saw me fifteen minutes ago,” you manage, your voice not quite as sharp as you want it to be.

“Yeah.” He shrugs and says it again, slower this time. “And I missed you.”

It’s that same tone. Soft, reserved. Gentle enough that it makes you feel like the only person in the world and sick to your stomach all at once. The cigarette hangs limply by your side, dwindling to nothing between your fingers. You wonder, idly and far too late, if you can even smoke in a dress like this.

The silence stretches on like taffy. You’re just about to respond when the music starts up again inside. It’s something old and very romantic. Maybe Sinatra, or Ella. You can’t quite place it.

Harry seems to, perking up instantly. He glances through the open door, where many couples inside are pairing off and filling the dance floor one by one. He looks back at you, eyes glinting dangerously under the terrace lights. “Dance with me.”

You can’t help the laugh that bursts from your chest, eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re kidding.”

“I just won a very important and highly coveted award given out only once every single year.” He takes a step closer, offering you his hand. “You’re telling me I don’t get one dance?”

You shake your head, inching back the tiniest bit. “I don’t dance with my boss.”

He winks, warmth sparking to life in his eyes just beside the glow of the lights. “Good thing I’m off the clock.”

You stare down at his outstretched hand for a second too long, lips parted in soft protest, breath caught somewhere behind your ribs. There’s something so deeply unfair about the way he’s always been able to make you feel like the only woman in a city of millions. Even now. Especially now.

You give him your hand.

You still hesitate even as you stand and slip your heels back on. You glance at the terrace doors and wearily eye what feels like a sea of people. “Out here?”

“No,” he says, turning your hand over in his and brushing his thumb along your pulse point like it’s nothing. “Inside. Just one song.”

You hesitate again. Not because you don’t want to, but because you do. Too much. And that terrifies you.

But then his hand tightens just slightly around your wrist, grounding you. His palm is warm, and you realize—of course he knows. He always knows. Knows how to read a room, read a blueprint, read you. Better than he probably should.

He tugs gently, and you let him lead you back inside.

The terrace doors hush closed behind you and the city disappears, replaced again by the ambient, golden warmth of the Met’s grand hall. You weave through the swaying bodies with ease, like they part from the sheer energy you must be oozing as you find a spot in the center of the room.

Harry draws you in close.

Too close for coworkers. Too close for anything you could explain away come Monday. But not close enough for the ache it sparks low in your belly. One hand finds the dip of your waist, the other laces your fingers in his. His touch is elegant. Familiar. A little too knowing.

You slide your arm around his neck and let him sway you into the rhythm. You’re too aware of every point of contact. The velvety fabric of his tuxedo beneath your hand. The graze of your thigh against his leg. The way he smells—Tom Ford, Tobacco Vanille. But there’s something else, something hidden under it that’s just Harry.

The rhythm is slow. Intimate. His hand is an inescapable plane of heat on your back, just beneath the dip of the dress, the pad of his thumb draws tiny, absent circles against your spine.

He hums the melody under his breath as you move together, you can feel the deep rumble of it against your chest.

“You’re trembling,” he says suddenly, quietly—whispered against the shell of your ear.

“No I’m not,” you lie, pulling back to meet his gaze. “It’s probably the nicotine.”

Harry laughs, the corners of his eye crinkle endearingly as he does. “Is it?”

You nod. “It is.”

The music hums all around you, but you hardly hear it. It fades away into the soft air of complete nothingness, same as all the people around you wane and dwindle until you’re almost certain you and Harry are the only two left standing.

You can’t break away from the weight of his gaze, drawn to it like heavy metal to a magnet. His gaze sweeps across every inch of your face, like he’s seeing you for the first time.

“You look so beautiful tonight,” he murmurs, so softly it nearly melts into the melody. “You always do, but tonight…” His voice tapers off as if he can’t quite land on the word. He doesn’t need to.

“Harry…”

He shakes his head. “I mean it, you are absolutely gorgeous.” He spins the both of you slowly, his eyes never straying from you. “And that’s the least interesting thing about you.”

It feels like a physical blow, but it lands in the softest way possible. His words washing over your skin feels a million times more luxurious than the miles of silk encompassing you.

You wonder if this is how it starts—not with fireworks, but with slow dancing in a museum full of strangers with your boss whispering something like worship in the space between you.

It’s nothing. It’s everything.

“Well,” you reply, voice shaking and almost far away. “You did hire me because my resume reads like a Vogue spread. You said it yourself, the firm doesn’t work without me.”

It should ruin the moment, bringing up work—where your relationship actually stands in the real world, outside of this fantasy of a night—but Harry doesn’t let it.

He just shakes his head, brows pinched together like he’s deep in thought. His hand tightens around yours, he’s so close now that you can feel the steady beat of his heart. 

Can he feel yours?

“When I look at you, and I think of all that you are…” Harry trails off again, the chocolate brown of his eyes shining under the twinkling lights as he holds your gaze. “That doesn’t even cross my mind.”

Your breath stutters, and you know—you know—that if you speak, it’ll all come tumbling out. Everything you’ve been trying not to say, not to want. The feelings you’ve tried to laugh away or roll your eyes at or bury under hundreds of deadlines and calendar alerts buzzing from two separate phones and all the plethora of ways you’ve told yourself this can’t happen.

“I…”

And then he kisses you.

And then you can’t speak at all.

It’s slow at first, but not hesitant, not unsure—deliberate. Harry kisses you like he’s been carving space for it, like it’s been trapped in him for too long. His lips are soft, but sure, coaxing rather than claiming. 

His hand slides from your waist all the way up to cradle your jaw, leaving behind a trail of heat along the plane of your spine. His thumb brushes your cheekbone, you can feel the faint callous left behind by countless pens and pencils.

Your hands bury themselves in the soft curls of his hair as you melt into his body. It’s so simple, the shift. You’ve spent so long running, so long lost in the dark waters of denial that you almost can’t believe how easy it is—how perfectly you fit together.

It’s like the last piece of a puzzle finally falling into place, slotting into all the others that came before it.

Harry exhales shakily, lips barely parting from your own. “Christ,” he whispers, forehead touching yours. “You’re—”

You kiss him again before he can finish.

His lips part under yours with a sigh that borders on desperate, and the heat crackles between you now, undeniable. Dizzying. When your mouth opens to him in turn, he groans low in his throat, like the first taste of you has broken something open inside him.

Slow becomes hungry. Your hand slides to his jaw, thumb brushing the rough edge of stubble. He tastes like champagne and citrus and the heady edge of smoke

The kiss turns molten under your fingertips.

You feel it in your knees, in your chest, in your core—the sharp, sudden ache of need blooming within you that has nothing to do with polite society.

When you finally pull apart, it’s only because air insists you do.

Harry rests his forehead against yours once again, his eyes still closed when yours slip open. His cheeks are flushed, his lips slick and smeared with the barest hint of your lipstick. You can feel his breath puff over your skin in short, quick pants that you match.

He opens his eyes, and your knees nearly buckle at the look in them. His pupils are blown, wide and black as ink under the lights. Your pulse is a drum in your throat, beating just as loud and fast in your ears.

He swallows hard. “We should leave.”

Your voice is barely a whisper, but it’s just as firm. “Yes.”

The ride back to the office is a blur.

You’re not even sure how Harry got you out of the Met so quickly, how you made it past the new swarm of admirers once again trying to shake his hand or take a photo or congratulate him.

The limo was already waiting by the time you made it out the doors. You barely remember the valet, just the cool feeling of the seats beneath your thighs and the sharp click of the partition going up behind Harry’s head.

His eyes pin you to your seat, hot and heavy and impossibly dark as the hum of the engine carries you through the city, velvet wrapped and haloed in streetlight.

He hasn’t even touched you yet, not really, but your skin feels like it’s blistering beneath your dress—your pulse high, your thighs pressed tight together in anticipation that makes your stomach twist and flutter.

“Come here,” Harry says, voice low, rasped from restraint and heavy need.

Two words. That’s all he says.

Your legs move before your brain catches up, straddling him in the backseat like it’s the most natural thing in the world. His hands come to your waist as you settle into his lap, and fuck—he’s hard already, thick and burning a plane of heat against your high.

“You have no idea,” he breathes against your neck, mouthing at the skin just under your ear, “what you do to me.”

“Tell me,” you whisper, even as your eyes slip shut, hips rolling forward instinctively against him

Harry groans—deep and pained and real. “You walk into a room and I can’t think. Not clearly. Not rationally. It’s all static, it’s all you. Your eyes, your mouth, your fucking mind—” He nips your jaw, tongue chasing the sting. “You kill me.”

You moan, your hands digging into the strong muscle of his back. It draws a ragged growl from Harry’s throat, his fingers twitching on your hips.

“Are you wet for me?”

You’re nodding your head before you even realize it. “Yes.”

He curses under his breath, burying his nose in the sensitive spot where your neck meets your shoulder. “I haven’t even touched you properly, and you’re already making a mess.” His voice is rough velvet, soaked in lust. “What do you think that says about you, sweetheart?”

“That I want you,” you breathe, already half-gone. “So fucking badly, Harry.”

Harry lets out a slow breath through his nose, his touch slides down your thighs, bunching your dress. “What I want…” He trails off, slipping his hand under your skirt. You gasp as his fingers skim the waist of your panties. “is to spread you open, taste how needy you are. I want to make you come with my mouth before I even think about fucking you.”

His fingers brush over the soaked center of your panties and he groans, low and dark. “Fuck.” He presses the pads of his fingers into you through the fabric—just enough pressure to tease, to leave you gasping. “This all for me?”

You whine, high and light in the back of your throat as you nod frantically. That’s not enough for Harry.

His eyes narrow, lips brushing the shell of your ear. “Use your words, baby. Who made you this wet?”

“You,” you whisper. “You did.”

“That’s right.” He slides the lace aside to run two fingers through your folds slowly. Your hips jolt, and he grins against your throat.

Your head drops against his shoulder, hips bucking against his fingers. He holds you in place with an iron grip, not letting you grind down for friction just yet. You feel the twitch of his cock beneath you, straining against the fabric of his tuxedo pants.

“Harry—” you gasp, breath breaking as he circles your clit with the barest pressure. Just enough to tease.

“Mm, I know,” he murmurs, kissing your throat. “I know what you need, but not yet. I want you squirming by the time we get to the office. Can you be good for me and wait, hm?”

Your stomach clenches in anticipation, your cunt throbbing between your legs. You’re not sure how much more desperate you can get, grinding on your boss in the back of a limo while his hand is up your skirt seems like the highest form of desperation. 

Still…

You nod—barely—because your throat is tight with need, but Harry clicks his tongue.

“I said use your words.” It’s not mean, the demand. The tone of his voice. It’s strong, rich with the same power and authority you’ve seen countless times over the past few years.

“Yes,” you whisper, your voice trembling. “I’ll be good. I’ll wait.”

“That’s my girl,” he murmurs, brushing his mouth over your jaw like he’s proud of you, like he’s already rewarding obedience.

He keeps his hand there the whole drive—just resting. No pressure. No movement. Just the heat of his skin against your soaked center, the weight of his hand where you need it most, while the city blurs past the tinted glass. It’s maddening.

Every bump in the road jolts you slightly. Every turn shifts your hips, makes his fingertips graze your clit. It’s not enough. It’s torture. You bite your lip raw trying not to move, not to grind down and take what you want.

It would be so easy, you’re pathetically close to the edge as is. 

But you told Harry yes, breathed it against his shoulder in soft surrender. 

You promised to be good, and you’re dying to see what it gets you.

Getting up to Harry’s office is a mess of stumbling feet and frantic hands that refused to stop touching any longer than they have to.

Harry kisses you against the door, your back pressed to the frosted glass. His mouth is hot and hungry and unrelenting, like he’s trying to make up for the months of waiting with every glide of his tongue.

You’re the one who breaks away just long enough to fumble for the keycard clipped inside his jacket, but Harry’s already sliding it free with one hand while the other stays around your waist. 

The lock beeps open and you stumble through the door, breath ragged, dress askew. Harry kicks it shut behind you, his lips never leaving yours as he walks you backwards until the tops of your thighs hit his desk.

You barely have time to gasp before you're lifted—effortless—onto the surface of his desk, papers fluttering to the floor beneath you as he spreads your legs apart with both hands.

“Lean back,” he says hoarsely, helping you as your hands fumble for balance. The cold glass of the desk kisses your palms. “Let me see you.”

Your dress is hiked up around your waist, pooling all around you like ink, your thighs parted. Harry looks at you like he’s starved. His eyes drag up your body like a man measuring the cost of ruin and deciding to pay it gladly.

He makes quick work of his jacket, only needing to shuck it off his shoulders after you made quick work of the buttons back in the elevator. He collapses back into his chair with a shaky breath, sliding in between your legs. 

His hands find the waistband of your ruined panties, eyes glued to your core as he peels them down your legs. “Fuck,” he mumbles, running his index finger through the wet mess that greets him. He kisses the inside of your thigh once, then higher, and higher. “So beautiful.”

His mouth is on you in a second—hot, wet, consuming.

He licks a long stripe from your entrance to your clit, groaning like he’s tasting something decadent. 

“Shit.” Your moan is loud, hips jolting off the desk. “Harry—”

“Christ,” he groans against you. “You taste—Jesus. I could stay here all night.”

He takes your legs in his hands, throws them over his shoulders and he devours you—there’s no other word for it. Messy, greedy, reverent. His tongue works in tight, filthy circles, alternating pressure, pulling gasp after gasp from your throat.

He sucks your clit, slow and deep, lips sealing over it and pulling it into his mouth. His tongue flicks once, twice, and your hips jolt off the desk.

“Fuck, yes—right there—don’t stop—”

His hands spread your thighs wider, thumbs digging into soft flesh as he groans into you, like you’re the thing getting him off.

Your head falls back with a cry, hands burying themselves in his hair. “God—Harry—”

“That’s it,” he mutters against you, voice vibrating into your core. “Use my mouth. Take what you need.”

You don’t even realize you’re doing it—rocking forward, grinding down on his face like it’s instinct. His nose bumps your clit perfectly, the stubble on his jaw sending aftershocks through your skin. He hums with satisfaction, like he knew you’d lose control, like he wanted it.

You’re already squirming, already close all over again. Your head lolls back as you cry out, desperate and high and wanton.

“Look at me,” he demands, voice muffled. “Right here. I need your eyes on me, honey.”

You do.

You look down and see him between your thighs, hair mussed, lips slick, eyes nearly black. He’s never looked more beautiful. Or more ruined.

Your fingers tighten in his curls, yanking—he groans like he likes it, grinding his mouth harder against you, tongue flicking over your clit until you cry out, arching into his face.

“Harry—Harry, I’m gonna—”

“Come,” he commands. “Let go for me.”

And you do.

Your orgasm crashes over you like a tidal wave—sharp and blinding. You cry out, thighs trembling, nails digging into the wood of the desk as Harry keeps licking you through it, gentle now, savoring every second.

Only then does he pull back, licking his lips like he’s just finished dessert. He rises to his feet slowly, towering above you.

“Beautiful,” he pants, voice rough and heartbreakingly earnest. “You’re so beautiful like this.”

You can barely breathe, your chest rising and falling with every sharp inhale. But you still reach for him, pulling him down by the collar of his shirt. “Please.”

Harry doesn’t hesitate. He undoes his belt with one hand, the other bracing beside your head as he kisses you again—filthy, deep, you taste yourself on his tongue. “I need to be inside you,” he says, voice wrecked. “Now.”

You shift, moving to turn onto your stomach.

“No,” he says sharply, hands tightening on your hips. “No, I want to see you.”

Your lips part on a soft breath, something dangerous squirming to life under your skin. “Okay…”

The sound of his zipper rings in your ears, and you glance down just in time to see his cock freed from the soaked cotton of his boxers. It’s thick and flushed, rosy tip already slick with precome. Your breath catches when he strokes it once, twice, eyes pinned to your cunt like he’s imagining exactly how you’ll take it.

“You ready?” he asks, soft again, lining himself up with your shaking entrance. “I need you to say it.”

“Yes,” you breathe. “I want you, Harry.”

He pushes in slowly—so slowly—and your back arches, a shocked moan catching in your throat at the sheer stretch of him. He’s thick, unrelenting, and your body clamps down around him greedily.

“Jesus Christ,” he breathes, pressing his forehead to yours. “You feel like fucking heaven.”

You gasp, nails digging into his arms as he fills you. “Oh god—Harry—”

“That’s it,” he groans, teeth gritted as he bottoms out. “That’s my girl. Taking me so fucking well.”

He doesn’t wait long after that. The first thrust is slow, the second is harder. By the third he’s fucking into you like he can’t get deep enough, the desk creaking beneath you, the sound of skin on skin filling the dim office air.

You clutch at him, gasping as he hits every spot that makes you see stars.

Harry fucks you with purpose, with hunger, but he never loses that softness—his thumb on your cheek, his lips pressing kisses to your jaw, your shoulder, the hollow of your neck, the swell of your breast. He cradles your head in his hands so you don’t knock it into the glass.

It’s all too much. Too much and not enough. 

It feels like home, like this is where you should have been instead of running every chance you got, like a coward. Your hands dig into his shoulder, his name falling from your lips over and over.

“Yes.” He kisses you again, bruising and messy like he’s trying to taste the way it sounds right off your tongue. “Say my name.”

“Harry—fuck—Harry!”

“That’s it,” he growls, fucking into you faster now, the slap of skin on skin echoing through the office. “You’re mine now, aren't you? You're finally going to let me have you?”

“Yes—yes—oh my god—”

“Say it.”

“I'm yours, Harry—yours—fuck, I’m—”

He pulls you tight against him, fucking you so deep it’s like he’s imprinting himself inside you. “Come for me, sweetheart. Show me how good I make you feel.”

You come with a sob, clenching around him, unraveling completely beneath his weight and his words and the unbearable sweetness in his eyes as he watches you fall apart.

“I’m gonna come,” he grits out, thrusts growing erratic. “Where do you want it, sweetheart? Tell me.”

“Inside,” you whisper. “Want to feel it. Please, Harry…”

That’s all he needs.

He spills inside you with a groan—deep and raw—thrusting once, twice more before spilling into you, his mouth dropping to your shoulder with a quiet, reverent moan of your name.

New York’s skyline shines through the window, bathing you both in a shimmering light. 

The only sounds filling the office are the light, gentle breaths as you both come down. The dull hum of the city underscores it, muted and fuzzy around the edges.

Harry’s hands don’t stray from your hips, his thumbs absentmindedly draw small circles over your bare skin. The night plays through your mind in flashbacks, each snapshot of all the moments where things shifted like a slideshow behind your eyes.

The stairs of your building, the touch of his hand on your back, the looks from across the room, the terrace. 

“Fuck,” you say suddenly, raising your head off the desk in alarm. “Harry, your award. You left it on the terrace.”

It’s quiet, until his shoulders start to shake and the unmistakable sound of laughter fills the space between you.

“It’s not funny!” You slap his shoulder, but you’re still smiling. “That was the whole fucking point of tonight.”

Harry lifts his head, meeting your gaze. “Was it?”

You look back, puzzled. “Wasn’t it.”

Harry chuckles again, shaking his head fondly. He leans in and presses a kiss to the corner of your mouth, slow and indulgent. “I’ve already got the only thing I wanted tonight.”

Your heart does a small, dangerous thing in your chest. “Well, this is definitely going in my yearly review.”

Harry hums. “I look forward to reading it.”

You don’t muffle your laugh, you don’t turn your face to hide your smile. You only raise your hand, carding your fingers through the sweaty curls laying on his forehead. 

Harry turns his head, pressing one last kiss to your palm.

You’ll email the AIA tomorrow, for now, they can wait.

MINI NAT’S NOTE: if you would have told me a year ago that i would be writing for a pedro pascal character in a movie that chr*s ev*ns is ALSO in, i would have laughed in your face, HARD. oh how the sands of time can change us.

anyway this actually wasn't the harry fic i originally wanted to post. i was working on something completely different when this idea manifested in my brain and i immediately jumped ship…but in my defense this is the fastest i've written something since the semester ended so ofc she's being uploaded. thank you so much for reading, love you!

[goodoldbandit]

Beyond the Firewall: Edge Security Meets Zero Trust for a Safer Digital Frontier.

Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo Sanjay Kumar Mohindroo. skm.stayingalive.in Explore how Edge Security & Zero Trust Architecture with continuous verification secures distributed data and apps. Join the discussion!
 Quick insights to shift your security approach. Today, data and apps live everywhere. The old wall around the network no longer holds. We must shift to a model that checks every request at…

[cymae-mesa]

you trigger my unskippable cutscene

Guys Divorcesteal is really good in a way that's destroying my sleep schedule!

Divorcesteal is a Minecraft SMP made by fans of the Lifesteal SMP (including a couple of my friends) with similar mechanics and more gay divorce.

On the server killing another player takes a heart from their healthbar and gives it to you. Which means you can only lose so many fights in a row before you're on zero and get banned. So you need to spend a bunch of resources either crafting new hearts or reviving dead players.

But unlike Lifesteal these aren't some of the best and sweatiest Minecraft PvPers in the world, they're… tumblr fandom dweebs. Which means there are fun fights, but mostly there's psychosexual torment, angst, and queerbaiting. Roleplay is king with everyone playing at least a heightened version of themselves, and so falling in love getting married and having an angry divorce is often a more significant kind of plotline than the combat.

But the really fun things from a viewer pov is the roleplay is just as competitive as the combat. Characters in the story keep secrets to advance their agendas, which means the players keep secrets from the other players. Because many people livestream their perspective or record it for youtube this means strict no stream-sniping rules. Players can't watch streams/videos marked :3 without permission and fans are told not to leak what they see.

Which is great!!! Because it means i get to talk to my good friend Will and say I'm so excited to see the next stream! And tell everyone else that I'm excited because :3 I know that next stream the person she trusts most on the server is going to murder her, which Will doesn't know!

^ Actually happened on Tuesday it was fucked up and beautiful!

The macro scale plot atm is the season ends in 2 weeks and various teams are firing off their endgame plans. Pathogen are building monumental architecture for obscure and sinister purposes. 1000 Suns formed with the plan of escaping to the End dimension and blocking access to it using advanced chunk banning tech so they could be safe. Pathogen found out by misc sneaky shit and they moved first. So now the server has no End portals at all and the whole dimension is inaccessible.

I'm currently fixated on Will's smaller team/polycule called Elysium, with Angel and ChipsEclipse. Will had secretly planned to join 1000 Suns in the End, but due to a combination of irl timing issues and personal (in character) beef it wasn't clear if Chips would be welcome. The plan became impossible due to not having an End to run away to, at which point Chips found out, felt hurt and abandoned, and decided to betray the team by joining pathogen and killing Will and Angel. Hence the :3 situation on Tuesday.

But of course being fucked up tumblr/ao3 kids everyone has decided to yes-and this situation to produce even more heartbreak and angst. Especially from the pov of Angel who wasn't involved in the murdering but was in the polycule and remains in love with both of them!

If you want to join me in experiencing this the tumblr tag is pretty active. There's lots of streams on these acounts:

https://www.twitch.tv/sundialseraph

https://www.twitch.tv/chipseclipse

https://www.twitch.tv/bettyisbaffled

https://www.twitch.tv/arceoptryx

https://www.twitch.tv/ravathedemondragon

https://www.twitch.tv/marshmarrowed

https://www.twitch.tv/leoonine

https://www.twitch.tv/gaysetokaiba

https://twitch.tv/vacillantvoid

But there's vods channels and other stuff I'm forgetting.

[felagund-the-valiant]

Hobbies they like to share with you (Maedhros, Caranthir, Fingon, Turgon)

A/N: haven’t been on tumblr in a hot minute, damn. I come semi-back presenting you some hcs!

Maedhros: strategy games

Maedhros is an excellent strategist, and he greatly enjoys games that challenge this skill. Board games or card games, either is fine with him.

Unconquered chess grandmaster of Arda.

He’s a gracious winner and would never dream of making you feel bad for losing. Instead, he’ll try to encourage you, so you keep up your motivation.

He has patience for days (perks of being the oldest of a dozen grandchildren) and nothing can make him lose focus. Good luck trying to distract him.

Has zero tolerance for cheating and is quite perceptive, so he’ll call you out at the slightest suspicion.

Since he’s good at reading others’ expressions and body language, he’ll quickly notice if you’re becoming stressed or impatient and will offer to take a break, if necessary.

His unending patience makes him a great teacher and he’s more than happy to share his strategic knowledge with you. Maybe afterwards you’ll have a chance of actually winning. If he lets you.

Caranthir: cross stitching

Caranthir seems to have inherited his grandmother’s talent when it comes to all things sewing.

It’s a good meditative method to clear his head and it’s his go-to activity after a lot of stress.

Often incorporates elements of Míriel’s designs into his work, as a way of honouring her memory.

Since cross stitching is quite easy to learn, he won’t hesitate to invite you to join him. He’ll draw you in with motives like your favourite flowers or animals and once you’ve gotten the hang of it, the two of you have a lot of fun coming up with designs together.

He enjoys the companionable silence cross stitching together can bring. Sometimes the two of you sit together for hours not speaking a single word and it’s never awkward.

Fingon: cooking

Fingon is a damn good cook and proud of it.

He was prone to starting food fights during cooking when he was young, but his parents scolded that habit out of him very quickly, teaching him instead to not be wasteful.

As a result, he can somehow still make five-star meals out of leftovers.

Even if you’re not a good cook yourself, he’s somehow able to enlist your help in a way that makes you feel productive and helpful. Leave the fine measurements to him, you just worry about the basics like chopping ingredients.

Loves trying out different cuisines. One of his early methods of befriending the Sindar was exchanging recipes. Sometimes it’s that simple.

Very enthusiastic about taste testing. If you have kids, he’ll definitely make them participate to hone their palate early on. You best believe his children are going to be the best cooks in the west.

Turgon: miniature city building

If there’s one thing that fascinates Turgon, it’s tasks that require a lot of meticulous planning and fine details.

He’s fascinated by architecture and incorporates many different styles into his projects.

Is Gondolin really based on Tirion or is it one of the cities he designed back in Valinor? Only he knows the answer.

Once the cities are done, you better don’t touch them! Little Aredhel once thought they were toys and played out a “historically accurate reenactment” of an early Elven settlement getting raided by orcs … she hasn’t been allowed in Turgon’s workshop ever since.

Like Caranthir, he’s a big fan of companionable silence, though in his case it might not necessarily be intentional. He’ll invite you over to work on a project together, thinking it’s a great way to talk to you more and get to know you better, only to end up so deep in the zone you’ll have to do most of the talking.

His workshop is his little hideaway from the outside world and letting you in shows how much he trusts you. Doesn’t matter if you’re not gifted at fine motor tasks and can’t really help him, your presence is more than enough for him.

[ardbar]

I think the concept of personal space in parkour civilization is different compared to the regular world.

People here have at least one block distance from eachother and even bigger of other levels. Everyone stays on their own block and don't dare to jump on a block person occupying. Mostly because because you just risk to fall off ot with that person, but if you do happen to share this space with someone intentionally it meens something special.

Sharing an already small space with another person? Risking to fall on to the lower parkour lever or even straight into the abyss? That meens you trust them, know that they won't betray you and push you off the block, that they will be careful to not jump straight on you and not fall into your demise. And this person trusting you to give them enough space, that you will catch them if they tip over the edge.

But the highest form of showing trust and connection here is probably jumping together on one block in sync, especially if you're doing it fast and without much effort. When to people move like a man and their shadow, not hesitating in their jump and being able to change direction without any delay on anyone's part - that takes skill and time. Time that they spend together, skill that they grew together.

It wouldn't be surprising if Parkour God and His Champion would also to do that, considering how devoted they are to eachother and ready to risk everything just to be always by their side

Bro why are you wasting talent like on my inbox; you belong on ao3, stuff like this would do numbers there lol

As I tend to do I am going to analyze this and give my take; I am going to break this down point by point. First when we come to your idea of personal space being different in Parkour Civilization, I think that is a super fascinating idea. In their world one wrong jump at least if you are a pro or a noob spells death, before evbo took over. As you said this would explain people having a different idea of personal space, the more room you have from other people gives you a more controlled environment for making jumps. Also while not a directly violent society it is shown that people don't view death the same way; they will kill you in a parkour battle if they need to or you refuse to surrender. This idea then can very easily be grafted onto people wouldn't have many reservation of pushing you into the void if it means they get to live; kind of like when people are ice skating and they start to fall so they grab the people around them, stabilizing themselves but causing others to fall. All of these points would imply or at least lend credence to personal space being a much bigger deal in their world; however, there is one thing this argument is neglecting there are places in the world without parkour.

In this universe the outside world is a majority parkour, this is of course reflected in other parks of their society with things like transactions being parkour and in the architecture. However on the note of architecture while parkour is incorporated there are still large area's with zero jumps. This raises an interesting issue. While outside people want as much space as possible, so would this also be reflected while inside where jumps aren't as plentiful? Would people let down their barriers if they think they are safe, or does life harden them to never trust the people around them even when they don't pose a threat? Honestly I don't have an answer to this that satisfies me; I don't know enough about behaviors or habits and how they form to give a well informed answer. One would assume that when you are almost always in a situation of life or death a moment of peace wouldn't make you drop you walls, however the people in this world don't act normally.

Evbo for example loves parkour, everyone does, and death is seen as not really something that is important even back when it was permeant. So would these people view this as a life or death situation or just another day? I think a parallel to real life would be driving, by all measures it is very dangerous but a huge number of people do it everyday; every time someone steps behind the wheel of a car their chances of dying that day skyrocket but we don't care. This might also be the way people in their world view doing jumps. Of course its dangerous but its life and they don't know anything different than it. Of couse when we drive we follow rules, more or less. I could see this being the same as traveling with parkour there are rules you follow but once you get to solid ground then you can relax. This is all to say that while personal space is important outside, once inside it becomes more akin to how we view it. I feel like i've bled this point dry so I'll move onto another thing you brought up which was doing parkour simultaneously or on the same block.

Even if doing parkour is just a common task to these people I still think they would see doing it on the same blocks as someone a very personal thing. If I once again make a parallel to the real world and automobiles this might be something similar to riding on a motorcycle. It is a much more dangerous thing to do and requires close contact, if you have any sense you would need to have a huge amount of trust in the person you are doing it with because if either of you screw up it could mean certain death. As a certified Mavbo shipper I of course think this would translate into their relationship. However, I'm going to take it a step further.

I don't think EMF would fear doing any jumps. His best friend, his love, is the god of parkour. He is loved by the very concept, so would he ever be hurt by it? Would he believe that Evbo would never let his domain bring harm to him, even if he makes a mistake does he have complete faith in his god to make it okay? I would think so. I think this is especially true when we consider the type of person Evbo is. He is someone that does dangrous insane things knowing the risks but has faith that he will succeeded. Seeing this same philosophy being practiced by his most devote, I don't think he would let that trust in him, in his idea be misplaced.

While I do have more to say on this topic I have to return to doing work. My books on arbitration law wont read themselves, sadly. I hope this was an adequate response. Also I was being serious earlier assume you are the same person as all of the other askes your writing has a lot of emotion in it and is very compelling. I could def see it doing very well in fanfic spaces, but you do you.