usual hum of activity-the faint clink of breakfast dishes, the rustle of newspapers-was abse

her voice unnaturally bright. She extended his

lips. Bergamot. A hint of cinnamon. His grip tightened around the porcelain. This was her blend-

idea of an

struck him. Him. Did she really think

back at Jennifer

struck. Gadreel's patience sn

cked her things and-" The words tumbled out in a rush-"Sh

went ver

tary, strode in, holding a crisp brown envelope. "Mr. Ødegaar," he sai

rushing against thick, expensive paper. Fina

tters struck like

CE AG

paper buckling under his whitened knuckles. His exp

ctually

Not a plea. A di

always been worse than her bark,

The secretary extended a smaller envelope like a man of

t, his composure c

hus

bborn. Sign them. I want nothing from you-no money, no assets.

cer

ex-

She'd called five years of luxury, o

he line connected after three rings-three agonizin

name came out

fferent-cool, de

he demanded. "You think

s calm, final. "It's exactly what it look

atened to shatter the scre

line. "Why? So you can continue ignoring

I'm done being your p

e knew. Before he could retalia

you anymore. S

ne wen

le

pressed to his ear, the echo of her

life, the great Gadreel

n the flickering light. Only the pulsing vein at his templ

mically-clench, release, clench-like a predator restraining

re laughably generous-she asked for nothing but her freedom. His

IFFERENCES AND S

anding themselves across his vision. His grip tu

dysfu

he fireplace beside him. Who dared-

oice was barely ab

ook in his eyes made the secreta

command came o

clicked as he swa

without warning.

ward, nearly tripping over t

berate slowness, he fed the document to the flames. Orange tongues lic

ched as the last corner curled into nothin

ction? She wanted pro

y w

y how functional an