ing was the only noise in the quiet bedroom. Her pencil scratched rhythmically

n doorway was fil

van's cast-offs that Joleen had hoarded. She marched over to Elenora's bed and slammed t

g. She didn't look up,

e rushed to the desk and swe

ds went flying. They hit the floor with a chaotic clatter, pen

book left on her desk. She turned her chair around. She loo

trembling finger at the duffel bag. "Linden hasn't left the driveway yet. You are going

ked up a blue pen from the floor.

black Maybach idled on

. He patted the seat beside him and realized his leather portfolio

oved the car door open, and ma

ck, plush carpets of the hallway absorbed the sound of his expensive leather

a sharp, hysterical voice echoing from one of the se

ped just outside the doorframe,

en cried out. "We are nothing here! We are parasites living off the Mo

ed. He leaned closer

xic desperation. "That is your only weapon! You need to use your charm. You need to get

or, Donovan's

nds curled into tight fists, his knuckles turning s

ery shy smile Elenora had ever given him, every cup of tea she had brewed, it w

of Joleen's grasp. She looked at her mother with a prof

Montgomery is disgusting. The thought of him touching me makes my skin crawl. I don't want

e door, Do

gusting and makes my skin crawl echoed in his head. It felt like a physical slap across the fa

ick. A double-bluff. She knew he

is leg and kicke

A

gainst the wall, the doorknob p

legs giving out. She collapsed onto the f

e seemed to drop ten degrees. He towered over Jol

voice dripping with venom. "And your acting is worse. Did

He expected her to be pale, tr

ike stagnant pools of water-dead, calm, and utterly indiff

nd pointed a single, steady

said. Two words. Sh

dismissal in her eyes stung worse than any insult. H

ish," Don

room. He marched down the hall to his study, grabbed his portfolio, and

. She grabbed the handle, pulled it shu