, the wool of his blazer a small comfort against her chilled skin. Her refusal to apologize hung in the air, a silent act o

ttering threats of lawsuits,

anite. "This is your last chance, Alaina. Apologize." He paused, and his next

. The word twi

oice a blade of ice, "you're

sed suit stepped inside. It was Caleb Hayes, Julian's executive

corridor camera. I've also had the audio isolated and enhanced. The bac

nged a look of pure pani

ce wall. The screen flickered to life, showing a high-angle

. A few moments later, Blair and Victoria followed. There was no video fro

the silent room. "...she's just shameless,

as if he'd been struck. His eyes were

t she's already slept with Derrick. Why else would he keep he

. Each word was a slap in the face, not to

was dawning on him, the horrifying, sickening truth. Her fury, the sla

pression utterly remote. A wave of shame so powerful it made him physically recoil wash

uing scuffle. The evidence was irrefutable. Alaina wasn't the aggre

ke a fish. Her face burned with a humiliation far worse than any

ooked at the two girls with cold professionalism.

knew exactly what the outcome would be, turned off the monitor. He let the silen

oft but deadly. "Who do you

hen he looked at her eyes, they were empty. They were like polished stones, devoid of a

er a disappointment. He had demand

nt, settled on him, and for the first time in his adult life, the

d on a spot on the floor, as if this victory, thi