ir of Manhattan hit Ci

Carlisle's building, her bare feet slappi

her skin, dripping wet. The wind cut right through

ut. A businessman in a suit gave her a look of utter disgust, clearl

around her chest, her teeth chat

and leaned against a cold brick wall. Her hands were s

e. The screen was smear

pp, but her numb fingers wou

reen lit up with

li

button and lifted t

rough the speaker, sounding chee

t a violent, broken sob tor

dropped, shifting into sharp pan

d out, sliding down the brick wall until she was crouchi

nutes away.

er, the screech of tires

tly pulled up to the curb,

. When he saw Cierra shivering on the ground, soaked to

ist," Juli

Cierra's trembling shoulders. He scooped her up by her waist and practic

's side, and got in. He immediately cranke

She buried her face in her hands, he

of traffic. His hands gripped the stee

ked, his voice deadly quiet.

antically. "No. I slippe

e hated my pitch, Julian. He said it was cheap

sadistic bastard. He's just torturing

the penalty fee. I'll wire you the million dollars today. You are

save her. But taking it meant she was exactly what Carlisle

her phone buzzed loudly a

picke

ine was flagged with a bright red excla

plummeted. She

, and stamped with the Lum

Holc

ur highly unprofessional conduct and inappropriate sexual

breathing. Se

er eyes to k

n marketing pitch at the Lumina Executive Dinner tomorrow night. He expects you to publicly demonstrate you

priate document, Lumina will formally press charges for

t the words unt

ent. Inappropr

t the screen. "W

d the phone. The blo

gal case to destroy her life. And she still had absolute

whispered, her voice complete