ing on the closet door. A note was pi

r up

to perfection. It wasn't a dress. It was a statement. It was the kind o

ing like a second skin. She

ajar. It was her old bedroom. The one she had l

ed the d

ga

s she had left i

acked on the desk in the same precarious pile. A dried rose from her hig

instructions," a voice

re, holding two mugs of coffee. H

room. She touched the spine of a biology textb

. "Or you were lying to yourself. I knew you'd return. You are a scientist, Jess

she said, looking aroun

gaze intense. "I bought the maintenance rights to the estate from your family

rise to her cheeks.

loyalty,

e of paper that Jessye had left there the night

" Benedict noted, rea

aid, taking a sip of coffee. "He thinks I'

he sandalwood of his aftershave. He placed his hands on the edge of the desk, effectively trappi

nedict murmured. "It wil

, I have lawyers who make his legal team look like paralegals. I will

't fear. It was the thrill of

do that

" he said. The playfulness was g

roughout the house. A red lig

cle at the main gate. Unautho

broken but the tension remaining. H

aid, a cold smile touching

as stopped at the massive iron gates. A man was standing outside the car, arguing with the

IP," Jessye sai

e pressed the button on the w

is Adam Payne. He is demand

ordered. "Do not open the g

Zero?" Jes

turned to her. "Do not go down t

man who had shredded her divorce papers. T

n't want to see him.

. A bank of monitors on the wall flickered to life. On

looked disheveled. His tie was loo

e! Open this damn gat

at Jessye. "Shal

ed to the console and p

breeze was cold, but he was burning up.

didn't look like rent-a-cops. They looked like special forces. The

"Do you know who I am? I'm Adam

h his eyebrow, stepped forward. "Mr. Payne. You

is in there!" Adam pointed at

and shook them. "Jessye! Josh

ercom c

ome,

unded different. It was amplified, distorted slightl

by, please. Stop this game. The stock is crash

out," the voice replied. "My

Adam spat. "You're my w

tablet, Adam,

thrust it through the bars of the g

esident registry f

t: Jess

MARRIA

"Widowed

e word. The lette

choked out.

"The man I married died the moment he chose his public image over h

reached through the bars,

bed Adam's wrist, twisted it, and shoved him

" the guard said into his he

oice came over the spea

forward. They grabb

out. "I'll sue you! I'll buy this w

't throw him; they just deposited him

is hand resting on the taser at his belt.

he camera. He saw the red light b

some dignity, but it was gone. He looked

e door. He reversed aggressively, tire

watched the car disappear

hand on her shou

t tomorrow," Jessye sa

, you won't be behind a gate. You'll be on a st

-