d shut, cutting off Barre

floor of the hallway, a sharp, rhythmic

h the elevator, the door

nged forward, grabbing her wrist with a bruising grip. "If you walk into that

ipping her wrist. Her pulse

arm sharply, b

ping with venom. "I'm sick of staying up all night

and hit the button for the underground garage. The do

res squealing slightly against the concre

radio. The silence in

i. Gus was a Wall Street titan, the primary venture capitalist

e could hear the thwack of a golf

re than the Montgomery family's discarded shell playing dress-up at a startup. "If Barrett sent

e dropping an octave. "Authoriza

other end of the line. The sound

ll arrogance. "Miss Montgomery? That... that is the absolute highest fam

unding," sh

use

ion. I want it pulled. Immediately. Initiate the wit

bankrupt him," Gus stammered

rust will liquidate every positi

done," Gus sa

ection in the rearview mirror. Her eyes we

bers-only spa in Soho. She spent two hours getting a full-body scrub, a ma

to the Tribeca penthous

doors opened

ed out an

s wearing an ill-fitting, last-season Chanel twee

ta R

he saw Harlow in her vintage velvet gown, her eyes widened in

d it with a sickly-sw

Oh, Harlow. You're home late. I was just coming to pick

ed straight toward the door, forci

keypad code. The

en, Crista tried to

d, her tone dripping

ammed her forearm backward, ca

lost her balance and fell hard onto the hallway carpet,

. "You assaulted me! Barrett gave me fifty million dollars today! H

wn at her sprawl

said, her voice flat and bored. "If you're going to steal fifty

hite. Her mouth opened and

ator din

s custom suit, his tie undone, looking like a man who had just looked dow

scene: Crista on the floor

rs. She scrambled up and threw

r face in his shirt. "She pushed

back, but his eyes were locked on Harlow. He was searchin

und n

tching them with the detached curiosity

ble shudder through Barrett. It terrif

re?" Barrett hissed, trying to peel her

t s

th the stress of his collapsing company. He dragg

ute betrayal as the doors clo

arlow, running a trembli

eak, her phone buz

out. A text

Bernardin. Private Ro

. A real, ter

apartment and shut the