ian

ared out the window, her jaw tight, betraying t

overheard that woman on the phone, Molly, humiliating her with such venomou

ithin myself. The feeling of being betrayed, of

vulnerability, she had pulled herself together, negotiating terms wi

Arts, which was a subsidiary recently acquired by my company. An excellent work record, but a

-certainly cleaner than the socialites who only wanted my mone

to house her, her phone rang,

t the scree

he hesitated for a long

id, her voice

out speakerphone, I could hear the rage in his voi

cross Kathrine's lips. "What now? Isn't

astard Troy Beaumont! Now we've angered the Beaumont fam

o used his family's influence to get whatever he wanted. At t

to do with me?" she a

d your office and took care of your leave. You're going to the Beaumont Group gala to

to a scumbag just to clean up the mess for

se and fall with rapid breath

he asked, her words c

get who provides everything for you! If you mess thi

, listening to the t

as my wife. Even if only in name, I would

the rearview mirror

almost imperceptible confirmation, his

back into the leather seat, exhausted, and

in the car wa

t a restaurant that looked decent.

me out of the car like a pupp

o defiant, I had a premonition for the first tim

d forward, the act of protecting