ete canyons of Manhattan gave way to the green, rolling manicured lawns of L

another layer of concealer under her eyes. The dark circles were stubborn today.

Vanderbilt family's ancestral estate. It was a massive, intimid

working" in the city. It was ju

chair like a queen on a throne. She was eighty years old, sharp as a tack, and the

aimed as Catherine approached. She

kiss the old woman's cheek. "Hell

oudy eyes narrowing. "You look thi

," Catherine lied smoothly. "Interm

on the stone pavers. "Starvation

ate china cups. Catherine took a s

andson?" Margar

xcuse tasting like ash in her mouth.

hed into her pocket and pulled out a small, wor

en

och-an intricate emerald hummingbird with dia

et said softly. "I want you to have

t hot against her skin. The expectatio

mother

rprising intensity. "Marriage is a job. Sometimes you have to work overt

ven Margaret kn

red, pinning the brooch to h

he likes. The vanilla bean ones. The way to a Vanderbilt's heart

kitchen. Baking had always been her therapy. The precise measurement

eat. She zoned out, pretending for a moment that she was just a normal

and cooling, she packed them int

to him. I will be the wife he wants. Maybe

aight to the SV Corp headquarters. The glass towe

he basket. She felt ridiculous, like Littl

ar path she had taken a hundred times. She tapped

light flashed.

tapped it again. BEEP

guard stepped forward. He was n

Catherine said, trying to keep her v

er. "I'm sorry, Ms. Vanderbilt. The system shows you

h of humiliation. "I'm the Chairma

tive employee status or a scheduled appointment for the executive el

office.

cess. She had locked the

aid, her voice trembling with suppress

her eyes. He picked up the phone. He w

yndon, Sebastian's nervous personal assis

stammered, waving at the guard to open the gate. "Sy

er grip on the basket tightening. "A

stepped in front of the elevator

very... intense strategy session. Hi

. He was a terrible liar.

session?" Ca

echnical. Bo

Kensingto

Lyndon opened his mouth, close

rt of the strateg

calmness settle over

rbilt, I re

aid

n. The doors opened instantly. She stepped inside

umbers climb. 10.

o the sky, but she felt like