ong, geometric shadows across the mahogany table. The room smelled of freshly ground coffee an

in his hands. He was wearing a charcoal three-piece suit, his hair perfectly coiffe

walke

in a structured beige pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse, her hair pulled

page of the newspaper, the paper

ched into her pocket and pulled out the Centurion Black Card

ic

was sharp,

stock market columns. "Is the limit insu

ice was steady, surprising even herself. "I saw the

her face. His expression wasn't guilty. It was annoyed. It was th

g this before my

rs?" Lily asked. "Or is that

slow sip. "Serena is the Executive Vice President of the firm. We were celebrating the acquisition

t a tie in h

during the strategy session because the room was stifling. She merely held

he word tasting like ash. "Is

, the porcelain clinking against the saucer. "Stop acting like a jeal

ast ambition. "I was the Pritzker Youth nominee. I was top of my class. I understand 'work.' I walked away from that po

Lily. You almost had a degree. Almost means nothing in the real world. What I do-what Serena does-that

and he used his height as a weapon, looming ove

egister. "Your father called the foundation yesterday. Again. He needs a bridge

n from her face. Her par

know," she

cked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was cold. "If you cause a scene, if you drag Serena's name-and by extension, the company's name-in

is life is to be Mrs. Ethan Sterling. To look good. To host dinners.

hallway. Spencer, Ethan's personal assistan

ready. You have a confer

he charming CEO sliding back into place. He

e have the charity gala for the Met tonight. I had a custom piece sent over from Dior. The midnight blue s

he wa

rushed back in, louder than before. She looked a

hat she was. A piece of deco

nder the chandelier light. It was the key to the world,

ked to the trash can in the corn

She went to the guest room closet where she kept her old things. She

irs of jeans, a few cashmere sweaters that didn't have logos, and her sk

ction stared back-pale, eyes wide, lips trembling. But be

sound was the loudest th