THREADS OF

nd silk glow. The place smelled of warm fabrics and power. Everybody moved and worked fast, getting ready fo

ri

that makes you miss your step. Each time I turned, he was looking at me... as if studying me. When I bent down to pick up my pencil, he watched me... his eyes f

cus," I t

sic, and the models were to move in concord with that music. My brain was supposed to be occupied with ways to perfec

was coming over to my table. Calculatedly. Confidently.

standing close. His cologne intimidat

Katherine is paying me for," I r

ightly, smiling, "A

something dangerous to me. I looked away,

safe answe

it gave me goose bumps. His eyes held mine for a moment too long before he backed away. My breathing was shallow. He wa

the very same office no one but her entered. Her office was chilly, and the air was thick with expensive perfume. A partially clo

lists of transfers from Knight Enterprises to several foreign accounts. They all had Katherine's signature. I heard footsteps coming, I quickly returned

calmly, but his

mile. "No, o

eadable. "Katherine doesn't

ent me

Just... be careful. Some rooms in this hou

edge in his stare... as if he already knew exactly what I had seen earlier. He held my wrist

athe," he

eathing, alm

is glamorous world of beau

as his fingers drew invisible lines on my face, sending

hard, his name feeling

. His hand caressed my arm, his breath heavy on my neck and my cheek, and the

he said abruptly. "From there, I'll joi

arly trying to regain control, to rebuild the d

, stiffl

o focus completely on m

es, Rain. Focus

oud. My face silently pleaded with his m

ay until they faded away completely. As I watched him go, I hat

of them at once. I had touched something forbidden today, not just Adrian's hand, bu

eiving his perfume, seeing his face, and hearing his voice. I told myself

urvive unhurt. And the secrets hidden behin