hat?" Damien asked in a quiet voice
n ankle-length beige trench coat, black dress, low heels. She made sure her ou
evi," she said evenly,
hing for hidden answers. "At nine in the
g tighter, willing her pulse to slow down. If he sensed
his cologne.The cologne was sharp, commanding and expensive. "Don
hat didn't reach her
ery nerve in her body was on edge. She had one chance to meet Mr. Gray
nothing like Damien's usual haunts. It was sited in a quiet side
t that fit too perfectly to be off the rack. He was seated in a
d, rising slightly
our message," Ava replied, sliding
weighing how much she could handle. "
. "Trust me, I know exactl
ow really knows him.You know the mas
"Then tell me. Why
our mother a debt
caught. "My
." His voice hardened. "Damien Thorne is dangerous, Ava. Not just cruel
ightened. "Wh
keover that destroyed three top companies and one of those CEOs disappeared. N
ists under the table. "Why
oser every day and every night. If you're going to survive, you need
d the sudden rush of determination.
faintly. "Reve
r, her phone rang.It was Dami
e ar
she typed back: With
He is suspicious. And Ava-don
g room, a glass of whiskey in hand. He didn't speak right away, just studi
i?" he ask
e. Tired,
We have a dinner tonight. I want
orites-not because it flattered her, but because it mad
g dinner with?" s
stors. I expect you to make them like you."
conversation, charming the Lanes with ease. Ava played her role, smiling, nodding, offering polite comments
of Ava's tongue. "Throu
e my secretary. I decided she was more
va felt heat rush to her cheeks. She low
tinued, clearly amused, "w
s a business arrangement from
. She forced herself to take a sip of wate
t her window. Damien sat beside her, scrolling th
ned to him. "Did
he asked witho
bought ornament in fr
a slow, cold smile.
ave to keep reminding me of the contract, D
er eyes. "Then stop pretending you
d. "One day, you are go
angerous whisper. "And one day, Ava, you
n half of what she'd heard was true, she wasn't just trapped in a loveless marriage. She was living with a man that is capable o
eached for it quickly, shielding the scre
Meet me again
ed. She typed a sin
ly.Meet me at the same
kept meeting him, Damien might find out. But i
in an unusually good mood, discussing a new deal. Then, casual
froze midway
h. "Funny thing. You we