her father who didn't give a damn but made merry with some of his business colleagues. It was obvious, he's alway

said, punching the but

e told herself. Just

pen to reveal Sebastian B

od," he said, like he was a

Blackwood Tower, that glass phallus stabbing the Manhattan skyline. Floor-to-ceiling windows showing off Central Park like he owned

nounced, leading her through the vast open

ew away my stuff?" The rage she'd been swa

to slap him. "Not all. Your books remain, after being... evalua

ad no

cing her to look up. "The contract you signed was quite specific about your transformation i

underestimated what she'd signed away. Not just my body or my name. I

different occasions." He gestured to a sleek, ash-blonde woman who materialized from anot

lections?" Olivia challenged, r

12, paragraph 4: 'The wife's public appearance will at al

bly got hard reciting contract cla

be left standing foolishly alone. "You'll meet Richards, our chef; Elena, the housekeeper; and Marcus,

he echoed hollowly. "L

like a valuable acquisition requiring strateg

e was beautiful-airy, those same massive windows, a huge bed with crea

d to another door at the far side of the room.

r the aesthetics evaporated i

voice dropped, danger in every syllable. "Should I remind you

orange flashed before her eye

N

d closer, close enough that

words out. "N

zed. He checked it, frowning. "I have calls. Dinner's at seven. Marissa wi

couldn't stop herself. "And

float. The moment you break that contract, I call those loans due. Your father will be bankrupt by morning, in fed

s his genuine interest in her answer.

onster," sh

r contracts." He checked his watch. "Si

d, her legs suddenly unable to hold her. She glanced around her beau

d her earlier. She ran her thumb over the hastily scrawled number on the ba

houghts. "Ms. Pearson?" Marissa's

he called back, standing and smoothing her dress. "Le

ord tasted lik

tire apartment bedroom, with sections for every imaginable category-daywear, eveningwear, sleepwear, a

owing her a section of lingerie that made Olivia's cheeks burn with humiliatio

. "Does he have my dental floss pre

lly stocked with all necessary toiletries. If you require somet

t a black dress s

suggested this. He likes to kee

n, it felt like liquid between her hands.

Look, Ms. Pearson... can I be real with you? I've been Blackwood's assistant for five years. I've ne

a laughed bitterly.

't last. None of them stood up to him like you do. None of them made him-" She caught herself

t cost more than most New York's bounty stores, yet somehow made her f