heavy oak doors of t

the vast white marble floor. She kicked off her heels. Her bar

ging in the foyer. August had paid half a million dollar

any bookshelf, she pulled a thick encyclopedia

e of numbers. The heavy steel do

nd emeralds. She reached into the very botto

tters at the top read: Prenuptial and Fixed-T

aced the signature of the man who had broker

button. The machine spit out the warm pages. She stapled them togethe

. Heavy, rushed footsteps ec

e loose. The cloying scent of the hospital's VIP luxury candles

ing from the study and

ly," August snapped, his

pled contract across the smooth wood of the

at the cover page.

harsh, mocking laugh. He planted both hands o

al tonight was just a negotiation tactic, wa

him. Her eyes wer

said evenly. "The contra

of a second. Then, he thre

This dramatic, attention-seek

ed the stack of papers. They flew off the des

r desperate games," he sai

teps, Allena's signature r

opping into a sickeningly sweet, gentle

earpiece. "August... the doctor says there might b

un around, completely ignoring the papers

om the side table and spri

The sound echoed violently

leather chair. She looked at th

stared at the date, silently murmuring a few unfeeli