. Alia did not wait for his reaction. She rolled off the edge o

te bathrobe off the rack and pulling it tightly around

k. Alia cupped her hands, splashing the icy liquid directly onto her face. The

at her in the mirror no longer had the naive, terrified eyes of a victi

erri was leading the paparazzi straight to this door. Five years ago, she had run out of this room in a panic,

sel stood in the doorway, his chest bare, his defined mu

throom feel suffocatingly small. He backed Alia against t

chin and forcing her to look up at him. T

th me?" The man frowned, a hint of fiercenes

ne and feeling the faint, almost imperceptible tremor in his fingertips as he held her chin. From these microscopic fractures in his armor, she fi

y over the back of his hand holding her chin. Sh

r voice clear and steady. "I just thin

thrown off balance by her terrifying calm. He searched her face for any sign of dec

f the vanity. She dug through the complimentary toiletries and pulled o

rm herself in despair, he lunged forward, his hand

n his. "Let go. The reporters outside will break down that door in exactly th

ronment of Wall Street kicked in. The haze of anger vanished, replaced

s expression turning murd

nd my dear stepsist

She picked up his discarded silk tie and his heavy platinu

ng her erase his presence with practiced efficiency

self from me?" Ansel's voice was dangerou

face him, her index finger tapping

to the Vanderbilt empire cannot be dra

utation, extinguished half the rage burning in his veins. He l

ed her phone off the carpet. The screen was

fe, she and Caitlyn had joined that ultra-exclusive private security club just to dod

most vicious bodyguards. Use the private elevator. You have three

second, shocked by the absolute authority in Alia's tone. But her Old Money

the massive walk-in closet, sliding the heavy mirror

hat happens outside, do not come out."