held at a private clu

nearly every gaze in th

pproached with wine glasse

ly occasionally, yet even that was enoug

s circle carried far more

ally became the subject of e

face while silently cursing

an hurried over and whispe

efore turning to me. "Wai

g, I asked, "Wi

sed by the question. After a brie

he left wit

and rest for a moment, a sharp

ing things. Turns ou

ned a

istance away with a wine glass in hand, the

calmly. "Do you

ed as if she had heard a joke,

you're already clinging to another man." Sh

hat several nearby guests i

n lifting my eyes, "didn't the Coop

ssion stiffen

the Cooper family's inheritance that she could hardly wait to throw me out that very day. Since all of

race's face be

ou

ss myself, didn't you?" I curled my lips faintl

lse, I noticed the hand holding

e came flying toward me, I

f my dress before splashing all over

asps immediately b

ss covering her clothes, he

ciously, hatred filling her eyes. "You're the one

seemed to regain some confidence

oice cut thro

you d

rned toward

t, Daniel ha

away, his expressio

ead to toe, and only then did

ed herself to speak. "Mr. Carter, this is a matter wit

to the hem of my dress. "That glass o

rds fell, the entir

hough she wanted to tea

against Daniel would on

card from her purse, and practically threw i

and stormed away, fury radiati

could barely remember how I mad

mind was Daniel's cold comman

anding up

h

lub, the cool night wind eased th

the car door f

s time and bent down

lub as rows of city lights sli

to the address I had given him the ot

s again, I suddenly real

four-hour convenience store by the str

y stiffened, and

ou

change. His eyes remained on

here?" My voice tig

o a smooth sto

turned to look

thing f

hy