IRE'

ng out of Richard's offic

nd dinner. One week of messy hair and wrinkled t-shir

dom that felt mo

alimony settlement glowing mockingly. The numbers were

nd of revenge that would make R

onica's Instagram profil

licked

. A close-up of her left hand, diamond

stars," the caption read, foll

e worse. "Modern

to find t

als

o steals her friend's husband

coffee mug slipped. My elbow knocke

shit, s

the damage was done. Within

this p

ous m

ected happened. Other co

ca Sterling is a homewrecker. Sh

my boyfriend in college

Publishing? She's been sleeping

t just a cheater-she was a predator. A woman who systemat

top shut, bile ri

ed me about Richard working late, all those shoulder rubs and

eline. Cream paper, elegant script. 'A small gath

eople. Rich people

imony would not fund the kind of revenge I nee

as dif

hy,' I thought bitterly. 'Rich

t was exactly

stitute attire" fit like a second skin. In t

rs, and for the first time in years, I left the

ing," Richard

anted to be

se and headed for the d

**********

stal chandeliers, champagne that cost more than most peo

eaned too close, whiskey heavy on his breath. "

I said flatly,

and two shots later, my gra

en wanting to know my marital status, n

oking man approac

know if I'm single so you ca

.. I just wanted to sa

rned to stare. I h

pered, embarrassed.

dy walking away,

s I practically ran down the hallway. Inside, I locked mys

hetic. You'r

, willing myself not to cry. My makeup had ta

ered, their voices carrying ov

him? He is ac

s perk

Sarah said he's

He saved three companies

o the stall door,

r though. Differen

ous with his spending,

run through me. A wealthy man with a reputat

xactly wha

e," one of them said. "God,

. I waited thirty seconds,

them. I had

ping directly into their path. The

t the man you were talking about

ing in my desperate expression

gger," one whisp

ith a smirk. "Good luck, honey. Half t

the other one muttere

mirror. The word should have stung, but

at it took to destroy Richa

my mind racing. Alexander Hayes.

nd headed back toward the party,

room, and I crashed with

d fall. I looked up into the most incredible green eyes I

voice a low rumble that sen

u ok

that looked like he had run his fingers t

t him screamed

aware of how his hands felt on

face like he was memorizing every detail. "Can't

ce called from behind me.

topped. 'A

izer who could fund my revenge. And

look away from my face. "In a minute,

ll through me. He was choosing me

aced small circles on my waist th

d, my voice breath

tasting something exquisite. "P

it, the way he was looking at me like I was th

" His voice dropped

ith Eleanor

en eyes....surprise? Recogni

u know

aned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Tell me, C

el the heat spreading out from his body, smell h

or someone," I

fidence in his voice

he voice was closer now

my waist. The loss of conta

ing something into my palm.

, warm from his pocket. 'Alexander

fingers brushing mine as

anding in the hallway with my h

bold handwriting: "I don't b

my spine. What did that mean? How could me

jump. "There you are, darling. I'v

into my purse. "Jus

bright with something I couldn't identify. "Becaus

"Eleanor, you promised R

is someone else entirely. Someone

Alexander across the space. He was talking to a stunn

in a small salute, that wick

ked Eleanor, noddin

, and her face lit up wi

r voice filled with satisfaction, "i

d wavere

'm not mistaken, he's alre

rom the redhead and start walking to

coincidence. T

I was playing, or who was