. A glacial calm settled over me, and a small, sharp smile touc

stunned store manager. "The bag that gentleman just purchased for his... companion? Bill it to my

n's face hardened, his power play utterly deflated by my own, more extravagant

later, he returned, his expression deeply apologetic. "I

I said, my voice ti

Miss Barron. The c

mmediately stepped forward. "Don't worry, Elena. I told

also de

hat? My accounts are fine

ld outside the room. Peopl

r? The Barro

store and can't even pay

. I had never felt so hum

le scene unfold with a cool, unreadable ex

ing a card from his walle

went throu

hen looked at me, his eyes cold as ice. "Perhaps

just a joke. I w

had frozen my accounts, and Javier's, from his phone. This wasn't just about a purse. This w

cing warning in his eyes, then turne

alked away, no

sit, leaving everything from rare single-origin coffees to first-edition novels outside my door. I ignored them all.

the communal living area a few floors below. I'd installed the discreet audio-visual recor

prawled on the cou

nts us to take her to the Hamptons, but Damien says

hined. "Damien's the one who torched her a

ith a sigh. "He wants one of us

e, holding a small, elegantly wrapped gift box

th a cold possession that made my skin crawl. "Her

levator. I quickly

rom downstairs. "His fiancée? Who does he think he is? Mr. Barron sai

ter, Ken. In the end, she'll still choose him. She always