ng, in the hot

aching temples. Hangovers were the worst-h

had groped her. The clearer the memory grew, the sicker she felt. She grabbed th

If he hadn't stepped in last night.

last night, M

ven. "You work for GrandVerse. You represent the co

ned. So this was what it felt lik

een someone like th

k on building my alcohol tolerance. I

time, take a page from William's book-train your tolerance, and if things g

...That's actual

p, his eyes narrowing

ght, but she'd been too f

k. "Oh, that's the nickname my mother gave me.

her sleep-she'd been dr

something unreadable fli

me? What we

. Just c

he offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry again a

told you-it wasn't your fault. GrandVerse doesn't need to do busine

his sudden sharpness. He rea

ing him in a new light-this heir to the GrandVerse empire wasn't just br

Not stingy, always offering guidance-Alice felt

d, their group return

enny had been arrested for tax evasion, sexual assault of a mi

urred, but the bandaged hand slung

e like him, abusing their power-who knows how many victims suf

ned. "Wait. but he seemed fine yesterda

ppen. You were nearly assaulted. Did you think Mr. Hawthorne would let that sl

off so many people, it wasn't even hard to find proof. But man, it was exhausting. If I'd kno

en William that morning

xed with gratitude-her respect f

ou're honestly to

anyway. So what if he had a temper?

already dark. The driver picked up Edward, wh

ely drained. But just as she began to relax, the image of Lenny's disgusting face resurfaced

nge, she scrubbed her skin as if it were covered in

t's over now. Alice, you're

close-not that she could see anything in the dark-but she could still remember h

just seeing those predatory eyes

p on the couch and checked her

d enough. Not showing his face for two years was even worse. But now? She'd l

arried to

lexander Blake"-a number his gran

finally picked up. But it wasn't him. A

? Who'

are you? Why are you

ther's in the shower. Can

ed. "You're

? His grandfather had

ot in the bathroom. You can call back in a bit. O

l was really his sister or some ra

call me back? I need to tal

ence. A moment later, Katherine s

r ear. Once the noise settled, she spoke calml

she h

e's scream had already dra

y are you shouting?

one. "Mom, you won't believe this-serious

"What nonsense are you talking about? If your

he divorce stage!" Katherine spun the phone around. "Look!

ood speechless, sta

phone and stormed toward the

your butt out

se behind, shouting to

robe yet. He threw it over his shoulders and cr

er word out, his mom slap

boy! You actually got