. The air was thick with the scent of money and expensive perfume. Aud

tic busboy got her in through a service corridor. She stood in

were. The h

ss partners. Isabelle, in a shimmering silver dress, was clinging

thin and cold in her lungs. She clutched he

etermined sound. A few people turned to look, their expressions ranging

uched his lips. The look of a hunter watch

k of fragile vulnerability. She shrank back against Asher'

opped directly in front of Ashe

clear and steady. "The file you re

smirk hardening into a sneer. "Before you hand

th his chin to

, "Ash, please don't. It's okay.

l stroke, painting Audrey as the ag

r. "Apologize for what, exactly?" sh

behavior. For your pathetic attempts to cause trouble. F

mly unclasped her briefcase

ped to a marked page. "I spent six months on this project, and I know every clause, every hidden

he yellow-hig

th the city inspector's offic

ent pale. "You

ice. "Now, you wanted an apology? I refus

n a nearby table, turned,

dre

g her arm just as she reached the relative privacy of th

k you're doing?" he hissed

g the spot where his fingers had

he coldness in her eyes, the absence of the adoration he had taken for gr

o destroy he

ropping to a cruel, conversational tone. "You di

air, sharp and glitter

e, Audrey. A pleasant distraction while I was waiting for the re

said, her tone flat

: "You think I'd hurt? That I'd beg you for an explanation? Asher, you overestimate yourself. For three years, I worked for you-I did

ce thrown over her shoulder. The click of her heels on the marble f

her face, loosening the taut tension she had held all evening. T

all, out of the glow of the entrance lights, and stood perfectly still. Three years of dedicated effort, of patient, silent endurance,

ly in front of her. The tinted rear window glided down,

just watched her, his sto