party was the t

d their new empire. Karissa saw it splashed across every financial news site and s

eeting at the company her father had built. It

o jewelry except for her mother's simple gold watch. She was no

ll eyes were on her. The silence was

en her father's. Hettie was beside him, not on the board yet,

y outlined his vision for the Kennedy Corporation. He was sharp, brilliant even. He had learned well. A

ed, her expression placid. This was her goodbye. A s

people were filing out

to you," he sa

her's old office. The view of th

side for years, secretly attacking my side projects. I know he did it for you. As a gesture of goodwill, I'm not going to press charges. And I've arranged a posi

her future, assuming she had nowhere else to go, no other optio

ht had turned to stone, fe

out the window. It had started t

knock. She wrapped her arms around Brady

e? Everyone is waitin

own. And around her neck was Karissa's necklace. The one fro

profane desecrat

g. Just a profound,

dy," she said, her voice even

d walked towa

her, a hint of annoyance in his voi

the door but d

own harder now, lashi

ed out of the office, out of the building, and into the

lt cleansing. It was washing away the last four years. Washing away the scent of l

in dripping down her face like tears. I am not his p

o the sky, letting th

m f