lins turned

piercing ice-blue, cold enough to freeze anything they touched. On his left wrist, a vintage Patek Philippe w

ers rested lightly

on the edge of the desk, and quietly exited the room. The h

is gaze locked onto Chloe, measurin

from Columbia. The overlooked daughter," Augustus sai

ug, neither shrinking under his gaze nor pu

wer and tossed a yellowed police r

ustus said, his eyes narrowing dangerously, "the per

m seemed to drop a

for over a decade," he continued, leaning forward against the edge of the massive wa

g Augustus Collins in this mood wo

nch. Her green e

local municipal employee," Chloe said evenly, "then you also know that my father

tepping around the desk, his presence towering over her. "Why di

n actually be useful to you. Kanesha is greedy and careless. If she entered your household, your unc

ifted slightly, the musc

her voice steady and clear. "I know how your uncle plans to challenge your voting proxy at next Thurs

ld cynicism in his eyes fractu

sking for protection. She was pitching an a

tiate with me?" Augustu

hout blinking. "You need a legitimate wife who understands corporate warfare, who demands no emoti

ral long seconds. The only sound was the faint

olid-black Cartier fountain pen. He unscrewed the cap and laid i

four," Au

ed up the pen, and signed her

Without hesitation, he signed his ful

heavy parchment, finalizing the le

from his pocket, tore it open, and meticulously wiped down th

to its normal, icy composure. "First, do not interfere with my personal schedule. Second

at the sanitizing wipe. Sh

ng a faint, professional smile. "I only ask t

Isaac. Have the staff prepare the east master suite at

ather-bound official marriage certificates,

t, feeling the embossed gold

red. She was no longer a pawn to be traded away; s

ternoon," Augustus said, checking his mother's v

lins," Chloe said, nodding politely

blue eyes watching her straight, confid