The chandelier above cast a golden halo over the long mahogany table, where silverware gleamed and place settings sat perfectly measured precis

e stated. Her jaw tightening. He was spared the need

one s

e that knew power like a priest knew prayer. Behind him trailed silence, lik

" he

obe

le, roved over the table like

at still sounded like it smoked cigars and crush

e said slowly, "for loyalty. And hard work. And for young blood with sha

or exhale. It didn't matter. The compliments were

lifting his wine glass

apkin in your lap, not on the table like a peasant," he said in a clipped tone. Lola

that," Lorai

need to tea

on brand funded by the family trust

e of rags doing

gance has grown, is growing. O

" Damien cut her off. "Are you running

altered. "I... we

ike the fumes of so

ou." Loraine gave a terse nod.

gged across soft skin,

as her first dinner. She sat beside Derek, nervo

id. "You're the

ed politely. "It's an hono

. "Tell me. Do you consider your... hi

aled. "Ex

career. Of sorts. But it's not something people usually l

Derek int

her. She has no rich daddy, no pedigree, no education worth ment

r voice barely steady, "I'm no

are. Still selling dreams, jus

oraine, for a moment, felt a flicker of pity-but it disappeared quickly. S

ien said, tossing th

s jaw

me, are you allergic to success or j

eed a Thorne. Too bad your mother

nt. That was th

mien's expression softened, just sl

fort," he said. "Michael, I've read your proposal. Thorough,

s head respectfully

ciative. They shared a soft look, fin

he wore her power like perfume soft, subtle, lethal. The way she listened intently, back str

ittle hands folded, the pictu

how that ma

ien was

What are we waiting for? Do we need a divine prophecy to move things fo

rek and Rachael a

fork. "We're taking o

I want to see your child

ght-lipped smile. "W

nd the table. But N

hed faintly. Michael whispered something in

, though his throat was dry wit

ston... Bold. But you could've gotten a cleaner margin. Next time,

nodded.

... Nath

dipped in steel. "How's yo

. "It's been an engag

Sic

ng a long-term so

held up

me this morning. Said the m

ow furrowed

m. Loraine's wineglas

I didn't want to bother Nathan seeing as he is stretched thin with thi

n sti

future, communicate. We don'

tood,"

force

chool, making Damien chuckle deeply and whisper that she had the Thorne l

clapped hi

the table," he said dryly. "

e laughe

things almost fe

ed into, watching the woman he couldn't read, watching the man beside h

his family destroyed by

illing to go to ensure Da