rom James. Sometimes he'd walk into the dining room, look at the

are breakfast instead. He definitely

rough the dining hall as River stood by the kitchen

eir marriage, he was eating

iously biting her lips in the process. It felt like a top food critic was in

en lingering in the kitchen when River left the

steak. The silverware clinked against the porcelain plate, the

e took

his expressi

s face remained impassive as he ch

th

w tigh

as he reached for the glass of water

ned. "Is i

ping the corner of his mouth

er couldn't

precise and accurate. There was

ould say anything else, he gestured t

commanding, so much

into the chair, heart pounding. James ha

sure what h

dging her presence. But tonight, he was here

e her

lightly. River's heart sank. Resting an elbow against th

ked. "An

fully. "A business function.

why, but it certainly wasn't becaus

sign that maybe he was startin

-level executives and sh

faded. She was just

taring down at the ta

press. No announcements. No pu

cou

It wasn't something to be

" she sai

pulled out a small black card, sli

ng your dress in the mornin

ed. "I can de

f smoothly. "I don't have tim

ed beneat

her exp

he had spent years working on her designing and tailoring skill

idered it a

fists beneath the table, suppressing a sar

ll him she was perfectly c

l enough to recognize

orced a tight-lip

d before the mirror in the g

ulder midnight blue dress, sleek and form-fit

wasn'

designed. It wasn't somethin

at she was living a life dictat

rs, adjusting the diamond necklace

he had to play, then s

nothing short

lored suits and women draped in the finest designer dresses. The air buzzed with polit

practiced grace, her hand resting

spared her a

't know w

ow she was Jam

eferred i

n her mouth and turned her atten

Robert

grand

s warm as he stepped forward, taking River'

his voice rich with amusemen

itely. "Thank

"No need for formality, m

nored him, already guiding River toward a

ike to introduce you to

ce at James, who remain

o

him

to Douglas, allowing herself

, she found tha

naries, innovators, people who had built their empires from nothing. A

a few approving nods, a handful of business cards,

ver, was le

ered as he led her away from the gro

. "I thought I was

e, but before he could respond,

e's gazes, and when she saw what caught

entrance, wearing the e

f-shoulder. Sleek

being practically shr

other woman.