She slid a few key asset files into her leather tote bag,

The binder lay open, pages spilling onto the floor. A half-eaten salad wilted in its

the button for the elevator, the smooth descent to

her car, her phone began to vibrate relentlessly.

ave you

ulative li

ME

before she finally tapped it. It took

with unshed tears. The caption was a masterpiece of passive aggression: "A tough first day in the corporate world. It's hard when p

ood of messages from New York's socialite

r kid is p

s to get

st don't belon

ring to life with a turn of the key. She navigated the labyrinth of the pa

heavy velvet doors. The interior was dark and intimate, a sanctuary of soft jazz a

on the table. "I want to post every ugly photo I have of he

gin a welcome jolt to her senses. "I'm selling t

d. "All of it? The Cartier bracelet? The diamond earr

cold liquid slid down her throat. "This is going to be a long,

gered toward their booth. The man was heavyset, his expensive suit strai

ing her uncomfortably. He grinned, revealing teeth stain

ognized him. It was Doug Hicks. Sienna's uncle. A man known

eyes raking over Chloe's body. "The little orphan who's making

. "Get lost, Doug. Now.

play poker with the owner of this joint. And Brad West is a

forward, his thick, sausage-like fingers clamping around Chloe

The stench of his breath was nauseating. "My niece is a delicate flower. You keep me

hand back, but his grip was brutally strong. T

le, crept toward the heavy glass asht

abbed her own heavy clutch, pre

ng speed. He shoved her hard with his free arm. Stella

last of Chloe's restraint. The fear vani

nuckles turning white. She was about to brin

en in dark suits, Brad's personal bodyguards, were parting the crowd like the Red Se