at the yellow diamond. She had taken it off and put it on a chain around h

buzzed i

Video C

e dropped the ph

ay. She was eavesdropping, of course. "

d up the phone. She put her thumb

The connection wa

ighting. She could see the collar of a dark shi

through the speaker. It was even deeper

earing makeup,"

your makeup. M

but firm. Her thumb s

er of the screen-wet hair,

e looke

orward into

opped b

that was straight and aristocratic. And eyes that were so dark they looked black, framed by t

ar. Like a dream

ght casting half his face

spered. "You'r

that made her stomach flip. "Glad to meet you

e you?" s

ly. "Business. The time

nough to convey the pressure of a world she couldn't see. The backg

opping to her neck where the diamond reste

much, Gus. I'm af

other one," he said. "You're

suddenly. "The certificate was staine

plit second, a shadow

id. "Gideon Aug

ie said. "It suits you

u can call me Gus. Only my ene

line. A man's voice, urgent. "Sir, the boar

expression shifting from indulgent to terrifyingly cold in a nanosecond

to go.

said. "Goodn

ight,

She sat there for a lon

o the room. "W

ted. "Very hot. His na

oze. "A

dle name. See

brother looked at a woman the way you're smiling right now, the w

ie said, thinking of t

. He walked to the window and looked at the li

t asked tentatively

rom the window. "And get me the tie that matches the blue dres

ir

t do