solid oak doors of the Aurora

. Clemens Pate was standing next to the custom mahogany pool ta

the cue stick. He walked over to the wet bar, pour

front of the massive tactical whiteboard taking up half the wall. The board was cove

eaning against the wall. He let

ping the board. "Her cash flow is a joke. On

marker from the tray. He raised his hand and drew a harsh, thick

d and mechanical. "Cut off their credit lines. I want these three

he marker. A spark of genuine excitement li

nto his words. "That bitch is like a ghost. I can't believe she has the nerve to show he

Emerson's hand

nst the whiteboard that it let

onto Clemens. The look in his eyes was like a

on warned, his voice drop

Emerson's gaze made him want to step back, but he forced himself to stay

his playboy mask intact. "I'm just looking out for my brother.

k at the board. "I am only taking back what

s back was to Emerson, the casual smile vanished from his fa

s popped. He didn't hate Jerri because she lied to Emerson. He hated her because

out his facial features. He turned bac

over. "The draft for the hostile

he pages, his eyes scanning the legal jargon. H

o the paper and violently scratched out a whole paragraph. It was the

e rising in shock. "Why are you going soft? That cl

hard as stone. "I don't want a worthless, scandal-ridde

Clemens up instantly, but the dark suspicio

. "But what are you going to do w

He turned his back to Clemens. He took a slow drag

, his voice completely flat, devoid of any human emot

finally broke across Clemens's face. He

ouldn't see E

row. He knew the truth. The only way to keep her alive, the only way to hide her from his grandfather's assas

ass and swallowed the

see her.