ng dangerously as he searched her beautiful

id, cutting through his heavy stare b

s on a passing waiter's tray and

ing away from the noisy ballroom and

s when a rough, heavy hand cl

dark, recessed alcove beside the service exit, h

ed, leaning in until she could feel the heat

ades. His fingers dug hard into her skin, but she did

l. "Are you worried your investors will realize you feed your assist

jaw worked as his temper flared, off

tertainment," Basil s

rastructure deal. As my future wife, you are supposed to show so

laugh that echoed faintly in the alcove. "Your standard

his voice rising in toxic arrogance. "I

Mcl

t voice interru

inst the expensive carpet. She stopped two paces away, pressing a ma

ie said softly. Her wide eyes darted between Basil'

uck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, tilting her wr

et. It was heavily paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, sha

aught painfully

consecutive nights, drafting that exact tulip

it to Basil, he had dismissed it immediately, calling the design "amate

t in solid platinum, resting

y flicker of unease crossed his face. Instinctively, he took a

s shoulder, lightly caressing the di

or closing the St. Barth project," Hollie chirped. "

ing assistant and stared s

asked, her voice entirely

ed back in an instant to cover his momentary

his eyes. "If you want one so badly, I'll have accounting order you ten

she had loved and def

rospectuses, every compromise she had made to protect his

ok her heart, her ideas, and hande

ropping into an icy, unshakable calm. "It i

a violent snap, and stepped around him. She walked d

one commanding and furious. "Get back

ack. She didn't eve

heaving with deep frustration. He was the k

nance and punish Alex for her

chest, and kissed her roughly on the mouth, right there in t

f the club, she caught a glimpse of their

ded a twenty-dollar bill to the vale

rted the engine, and pulled out

ntrol on her steering wheel

enior paralegal answered. "Draft an unconditional termination of