pter

y once claimed to represent. The room erupted into polite applause, but Sodium felt as if he were under

rm against his ear. "Come with me

he part of him that remembered the girl she used to be-the one before the money,

peak as they made their way down a marble corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly. The grandeur of Crystal Towers was overwhelmin

er hand on a scanner, and the door slid open silently. Sodium followed her inside, s

ehind it, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city

he said, crossing his arms. "

or never faltering. "What I want," she said,

inished business? You're going

were destined for this. We've always been drawn to each other, ha

u've spent years pretending I don't exist

caught a glimpse of something raw beneath her ic

ed you here?" she asked,

'd get to that,"

m. For a moment, she said nothing, and the si

dying," she

hing he expected. "I'm sorry," he s

e's the reason I am the way I am. Cold, unyielding, ruthless

wned. "Ato

m, her steps deliberate. "

e a thundercloud. Sodium's ja

I'm joking?" s

need his money or his approval. W

verything. My inheritance, my companies-everything I'v

. "So what does this

ing to a near-whisper. "I need your help

"Trust? That's rich

er has connections, power. If I refuse to marry his chosen heir

fore, and it had nearly destroyed him. But there was somet

he asked

she said, her voice trembling just slightly. "An

him under. He wanted to walk away, to leave her to her pe

But don't think for a second that I'm doing th

e, but it wasn't one of triumph. I

epeated. "We'll

a battle he wasn't sure he could win. But one thing was certain-whatever happened