encounter out of her lungs. She squared her shoulders and walked confide

rest on their lapels blocked the double doors. They held d

vet rope. "Jeannette Buck," she

screen. He frowned. He swiped again. His face

instantly. Devyn. He knew she was back from Europe. He had deliberately removed h

yn standing near the center of the room, holding a glass of champagne, laughing. Zara w

urned back to the guard, her eyes narrowing. "Call t

disrespect. "Listen, lady. Half the women in Boston try to claim they're related

s waiting in line behind J

t the Beau

her. How embarrassing,

er clutch so hard her knuckles turned white. She calculated the distance to the service hallway

e a prob

tinctly British voice c

lroom. He pushed a pair of gold wire-rimmed glasses up the bridge o

derstanding crossed his face. Ten minutes ago, his boss had spoken through the earpiece with a terrifyingly calm

if they were invisible. He stopped in front of Jeannette a

ctly over the quiet crowd. "Mr. Koch has been waiting for y

the silver-suited man. Everyone in high finance knew G

weat breaking out on his forehead.

rim of his glasses. The absolute disdain in his eyes was suf

ed over his own feet rushing to unhook the velvet rope.

ssive, terrifying bell in the financial world, but she

s a survivor. Sh

She didn't even glance at the sweating guard. She stepped past

ing open as they watched the 'discarded' fiancée walk thro

a step behind Jeannette, guiding her

g her lips. "But I think you have the wrong pe

mile touched his lips. "I assure you, Miss Buck, I ne

ack to the dark, suffocating elevator. The man

ous round of applause erupted from the center

the VIP tables surrounding the stage. "He

melting seamlessly into

reath, letting the oxygen fill her lungs. Her eyes scanned

the glare of the chandeliers. She walked forward, her steps per