ampagne towers taller than the centerpieces, a room full of people performing wealth at each other like it wa

she had a rea

d of voice built for closing rooms. "I don't believe we've

mposure that made her instantly understand how he'd survived six years at Weston's side. Lawyers who lasted that long in her

convincing, no more. "Voss Atlantic. We're not currently doing

n it should have. "You're the first new face at one of these things in years that nobody in this ro

in places most of the people in this room have never had

tiveness of a man used to reading people for a living and finding one he could

w b

omething almost likable in him - which was inconvenient, because she

tlantic to a Kestrel Holdings

rs. "And I make it a habit to know who I might be doing bus

the way she'd learned to hold still under far worse scrutiny than o

, Mr. Ashford. Most of them just

f a man who'd never once been made to answer for what he'd done. He hadn't looked her way. Of course he hadn't. Why

into her chest at the sight of him not recog

king. It'll make this so much more

uietly, following her gaze halfway across the ro

k on him, and watched him nearly forget the question he'd asked. "Te

almost before she caught it. "Long enough to know where most

iled, slow and deliberate. "But now I

away with something like satisfaction. A man who tried to slow down her downfall five years ago and still flinche

hand instead of an answer. "I have a fe

tain, nothing like the cold, careful hand

ling, Mr. Ashford," s

f Cha