Let the G

d of polished wood,

legs crossed elegantly, a tablet in front of her,

Blackwood leaned back in

udyin

lve a riddle he co

flinch unde

ared, thinking they were in control w

s stare was

t that filled

s con

gnit

ng

led, just

o

him

im wo

uld be begging for things

he would d

by p

he had des

voice low and smooth. "I appreciate you flying all the way here to

, letting her hair fa

'm buying into," she sa

most-smile that once would

fueled the fi

nough,"

ething in his gaze-an echo

the memory befor

idn't exis

ever

as a g

intended

er contracts and projections, d

ss-sharp, brilli

er, to chip away at her cold exter

ve him

s of his jaw, the way he loosene

sed to losi

ly not t

h a spark of vicious sa

ended, Damian looked e

her papers, running a h

sive," he said, a

wed a hint

kno

the sound l

heartbeat, the years

again, sneaking out of her father'

at... she wante

ed the feelin

ess was

nobody's f

leave, Damian's v

someone," he said,

e fr

back at him, arch

" she asked, v

an p

s face, his mouth opening

hing Belle had

d smile-the kind that promised ni

r heels echoed

eral

back against the mirrored wa

rt was

from

xhilar

rap w

move had

no idea he was

t her throat-a tiny black

what had been

she would

ryt

comp

fort

he

en he had no

im in the ashes o

e he had

s alive with the hum of

thouse, a glass of champagne in her h

open on the table, pages fl

ontracts.

d to destroy Damian Blackw

ye

cherous part

pon a time, sh

ime, he had b

fu

fore

he was h

, she thought bitterl

uld pay i

le arrived at Blackwo

ea

g to meetings, the interns scrambling for coffee, the ex

sense of contr

hen she

ooftop garden, a coffee in his

haunted look

twisted somethin

, she almost

mo

membered Lila's

the white-hot p

steeled

mer

for

or an

ut a word, heels clicking

t his gaze

av

ng

fus

o

im wo

him

games had on

Belle embedded herself de

meet

ate di

strategy

essly-the poised, brilliant business

ank deeper into whateve

inding excus

tings, asking personal ques

the way he used to lo

lon

reg

he didn't

thought s

a way,

ved-the woman he ha

stood a storm h

nner meeting, Damian offer

hesi

dangerous

led sweetly

the hum of fluorescent light

ed her car, D

said, voice

, raising

ux," she cor

tly. "Right. M

was a

ar

av

e of someone," he said

ilted h

d that be, Mr

wall

an I..

heart

remained an u

aid, her voice like a

sides, as if he wanted to r

," he said

e bl

e asked, genui

thing," he sa

e saw the boy she ha

d once promise

er had be

had con

d, sweet

accepted,"

nd drove away, leaving him s

where he

elle stood by the window

dden under her dress, f

survived

isen from

d

s his tur

ass in a silent t

es begin," s

sm

was only ju