't sleep t

he city bleeding neon light through the thin curtains. The hum of traffic ech

floor. Back in that glass-wa

en H

empire stretched across continents-real estate, biotech, defense contrac

built it

s mother died not long after, and from then on, Damien was on his own. Foster homes. Boarding scho

no one dared

why

ty. She knew she was smart. She worked hard. She'd graduated top of her class at NY

lished. She didn't belong in a world o

e'd looked at her

own to every flaw, every scar she thought s

e want

tely. No

posse

rning –on t

r doors sli

Emery didn'

as pulled back neatly, and she wore no makeup. Not because she wanted to make a point-but b

pty when she step

ace of silence, dark wood floors, and art that l

h

e the

oth, low, like

tu

water in one hand, shirt sleeves rolled up. His watch gle

llowed an

licked shut, he

t her like s

're

ould be," s

A lot of people do. Most

t to say to that. S

hing I don't have time to think about-calls, schedules, memos, meetings, dama

slowly. "Ye

flicked

fer Da

ted. "Okay

hifted something in the air between the

from the Bronx?" he

. "Yes. How

eliberate. "Scholarships. Part-time jobs. Straight As. Ful

ed. "Is tha

s the most interest

frow

s steepled. "Most people come to me

idn't ask fo

hed-almost a s

is wealth or confidence or his eyes, which se

that there was a se

kept

sure which one