ca was a vacuum that aimed at stran

y chest like a jackhammer. I had chosen to wear all-white a stark cont

He continued scribbling, "You have precisely two minutes, Mis

tsteps sounding like gunfire. I did not sit on the chair on the other side of

pau

ked like the frozen sea; they were beautiful but deadly. He

ast, beautiful, and utterly deadly. They followed the line of my jaw, seeking th

of his. No, he did not even lay a hand on the document. "Arya,

terms," I lied. The lie felt like p

r's armrests. He looked like a monarch who was considering an especially amusing subj

, in the same dull tone. "A hostile takeover bid? You'll be tied up in court

jaw tightened in response.

it," I

its length. For just a moment, the mask broke. Shock fla

ourself on the market to secu

s until my skin bled. I'm getting close enough

receive control of the ports immediately, no litigation involved. As a part of the deal, the

ess tran

professi

ed away from the desk, walking until there was no space left between us, until the

from my face, invad

ay from my eyes and then back in

me," he

care about you at

that my neck was tickled b

"Watch your

l regre