SA

t even allowed. Through the tinted glass, I saw the silver body of Mr. Stark's

e I'd thrown together after getting home

s thought I was beautiful - Jace said so a thousand times - but maybe I was never enough. Maybe I was the joke eve

or anything – but I felt naked without them. So, I left them

moment I saw him, heat cre

cean

is pockets, suit pressed within an inch of perfec

ind of man you

dn't help it - and then you looked

rk hair brushed back in a way that didn't dare fall out of place, and those eyes... col

g, Mr. Stark

ch in his brow like the sound of my voice had interrupted his

icked down, slow

su

riend, who was also

mile before turning

e girl trying to hold herself together during

blazer and forced my hands to stop t

Hanold, and Miss Harry," I said,

the fourth member of our group, Mandy, Hano

stured toward them, pretendi

in. I just needed a room, a bathtub,

e receptionist fro

no reservation under Miss Harry

jumped.

, rich, controlled

make

St

e had a certain effect on me that I had come to categor

I'm sorry, sir, but we're

ill be taking place tomorrow. Every powerful na

complete the reservation while I was busy c

Mr. Stark's gaze drilling through my s

something... A

the key

ook in his eyes told me one thing

the alone time I looked forward to spending in a bathtub.

arks opens the

a ghost and

t i

ed through my head until my

the infamous Ocean Stark made eve

and did what any heartbroken idiot does at

rs were r

h friends.'

ntaneous.' I coul

enge

Revenge sex? With who? Jace was

one. Just me - pathetic, faithf

ted on the couch, surrounded by files and his laptop, a

ecision in his movements. Everything about him was neat and intentional. And I always resist the urge to

against him. The distance between us was small but heav

t still ached from everything I'd tried t

since we entered the suite

could make you feel completely invisible

es when my phone buzzed beside me. Once. Twice.

ing my boss h

that

oosebumps running down my arms. Thankfully, I was

g as I silenced it. I didn't dare look

o hide the soft sobs and sniffles that w

, you'll never last." His chil

I'd imagined them. My heart ski

ed up

, grey, unreada

y lump as a tear

ce came out thin, breaki

s of his shirt were undone, the faintest shadow of muscle visible be

s?" he asked wit

" I sniffed, wiping my tears off

he was analyzing nu

him ch

with your fiancée!' but, just like Moon said, I could never. I owe

live. Pull yourself toget

softness, no sympa

beyond orders. For a man who could end careers with a phone

n or a warning?

ed to come out of my mouth, but it failed, because I

k I am weak,

faint crease appear

d to stop with him, and my pulse

asked, still

?" My voic

you'r

rested on me. The movement was so small, but it felt like the

w," I whispe

trying to prov

sure,"

was trying to decide if I w

would take to delete his name from your phone," he sai

would you recommend, Mr.

es

lking about quarterly losses. But something in his eyes sh

he only answered with his steady eyes on mine, "Do you..." My vo

d never displayed it anywhere near my boss before

N

tally honest answe

whisper cracked. "Wh

in something cl

w the truth?" He asked flatly, and I n

or her for years now. And when I find her...?" He paused, and some

care. But maybe I also wanted Moonie to suffer the way she'd made me

ur cousin is strictly business."

e shut me up. Instead, something ho

he turned t

his head and gave me that lo

n. My heart was poun

." I stood in front of him now, feeli

he tremor in my throat. "I want to do

ed like he could

his eyes looked darker now, colder, like deep w

to forget all about Jac