ys were a speci

, a board member, had manufactured an "urgent project" for Eleanor. It w

astian Vanderbilt, from his throne behind the mahogany do

hine. Three hours of sleep a night. A diet of black coffee and pro

was a cavern of darkness, punctuated by

al word of the re

pied: Vanderbilt Amber, and the entire b

d. The prolonged stress, the lack of sleep, the sheer physical exhaustion-it flippe

t like a fist clenching her insides, twist

d water.

he world tilted. Black spots danced i

battle. She made it through the door before her strength gave out completely. She sl

er throat. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. She wou

he cold concrete floor. The sound of Amber and her friends laughing on the other side of

ng to fray at the edges when

ort she sent was missing a key financial model attachment. He had been ab

e fou

mal. Her face was ashen, her forehead

ing creature who had signed his NDA. This raw, uncontained vuln

s a shard of ice in the quiet room

. She tried to uncurl, to stand, but th

t were broken. He hated mess. He hated weaknes

ally upright. Her skin was shockingly cold. Her wrist, del

act, a full-body tremor that

ainst the inside of her wrist, find

an necessary. Then he let go. S

angry. He dialed from memory. "Carlisle, get to

thout waiting

wn, slid one arm under her knees and th

ike iron, his chest a wall of unyielding muscle. She was overwhelmed by his scent-som

forced to rest her head against his chest, the steady, powerful thru

e to his office. He kicked open the door to a private lounge she hadn't

for a moment, a da

said, his voice flat and cold

closed the door, plunging