was used to cleaning up rich people's messes. He didn't blink at the shatter

It was brutal. It stripped Elena of h

nnette, darling, let's just... delay the engagement announcement. Say y

gued, standing beside Annette like a sentinel. "Stock prices h

ened up. "I won't let you ruin Elena's life completely," he said, puffing out h

tte and the door, try

cked her nails. "So you choose her ov

round the room. "I... I can have

Annette

like a gunshot. "That's it. Deal's off. I'm ca

panicked, reaching o

ring over the call button. "He's reckless, he's stupid,

ee to anything to save the money. But Hank remained stubborn

e're wasting time," she said.

rd. "The Adams-Bol

placing her hand on t

said again, lo

, but the weight was different now.

speration leaking into his voic

by the dim light of the library. Her red

, right?" she asked innocently. "It's about the alli

ard nodded

ween Annette Adams and Ha

are you saying? There are no ot

ere?" Ann

on," Annette

le

y sound. "Dereck? You me

e said. "He has the blo

cracking. "He hasn't left the West Wing in three years! He's

" Annette

him," she

d. "You'd rather have a vegetable than me? You'd r

ed him up an

son. The one he had written off years ago after the accident. But... he was st

" Annette said, "Th

er eyes hardening.