led sheets. Ari blinked awake, her lashes fluttering against the sting of a dull headache.

n't in

umpled on the floor like it had been peeled off in a hurry. Her shoe

shing hair that was no longer neatly pinned but tangled, wild, and falling in messy

omed in h

rned h

eveal a chiseled chest, the smooth curve of a collarbone. Jet-black hair

ked bac

e hell

the room for clues-her clutch was on the dresser, h

pened la

nd. Her feet barely touched the plush carpet. She grabbed her dre

st

w

g goodbye?" a deep voi

fr

n't tur

nto the cool metal. Her voice cracked when she sp

thick with sleep, yet smooth as silk. "I'v

, she

s and a powerful frame. His eyes-sharp, dark, and strangely u

e was answ

his knees. "That gala wasn'

pagne. Laughter. A warm hand at the small of her back. Heat. Music. A ki

wed hard.

ve. "What do

, then winced at her own volume

asti

s nearly

ages. At work. Whispers in elevators. Rumors of a young, elusive bil

ppened last night

e walked to the minibar and poured himself a glass of

now. That wa

from the dresser.

issed

her

essage: We need t

tomach

ver the rim of the glass. "Something tells me that

?" she whisper

"That's what we're

the elevator, her heels echoing in the marble hallway. The button took too long to light. W

ough the lobby. Outside, the city felt louder than usual-horns, voices, f

seat, and whispered her address

just on

t someth

nto that dress, that damned champagne. Her firm had begged her to attend-it was th

pected to le

he remember the mo

rs. Her clutch still held her invitation. Her camera roll had several bl

t was.

e

h h

mething into her ear. Her head tilted back in

heart

waiting to explod

tification

ENT MEETING

oss a

a fresh outfit and headed for the shower. S

ded to

was coming, it

past whispering assistants and curious stares. Her

Inside

Nadine closed th

call. From H

fr

ant you

stuttere

is personally requesting you as liaison for a new campaign. Tri

make sense,"

es narrowed. "Whatever happened between y

r mouth but c

did h

ne buzz

nch. Today. Don't

she held the screen. The

The kind of place where reservations took weeks. He was alrea

ame,"

ery instinct on hi

e. "Because yo

not an

want the

y m

. "Because you asked me to take

breath

illingly. And I think part

d her hands

siness with...

t's rede

proached, whispering something in Se

g watched,"

wh

didn't

lculated smile that

ized this was bigger t

lready in

out. His car waited, engine humming.

you want

readable flickering behind his

st myself right n

ropped. "Th

go

iggest mistake of her life-or t

headquarters. Floor after floor of mirrored glass. Sebastian led he

ring m

one listen

s. "What's really g

It wasn't me. But I was the only one who noticed yo

ted. "Why didn't y

And whoever did it... they were

ief. And some

e

screen. "This isn't just a scandal. Someone

lirting, unaware of the hand dr

omach

" she said

s tone darkened. "He

ed

hed the n

rred. Her mind

ust caught i

ught in a

the city blur into color and light. Her

f I can do this

Close, but not touching. "Yo

was almo

er phone b

e, a new

nger. Get aw

her eyes m

a warning,

jaw clenched

But they knew I

h realized... they weren't t

e being

os

clos