the size of a closet, smelling of bleach and dam

stme

as an object. A broken thing he had picked

zzed. A text

the hell are you doing? You are there to fix the engagement

ew the phon

She couldn't. The way he had looked at her on the terra

n't fix it, he

ed a thi

ad cowered before him. The way the ent

he sharks, she needed to s

she had left-a slip of a nightgown made of cream silk. It was

ch coat over it, ty

. The resor

veryone knew. The Presidential Bunga

the room, dodging t

guards were stationed at the gate.

eld her head high, channeling every

e Mr. Blackwo

listened for a moment, then looked at her wi

ctin

e click

ow was a masterpiece of modern architecture,

door was

the sofa, a laptop open on his knees. He was wearing reading glasses. He

k up. "You to

the ocean below was muffled, replace

know I'd come

them on the coffee table. "Because

her coat. "

ere clumsy. She untied the knot and let the coa

silk. It clung to her curve

raveled up slowly. It felt like a physical t

," she said, her voic

u dressed for it

the most honest thing she had ever said. "Richard cut me off. H

walked over to her,

ping with me will b

n the elevat

k sound. "That wasn't a transacti

f hair that had fallen over her sho

you want?" s

," he said softly. "Why you st

ed me," she said. "Becaus

eek. His thumb traced her jaw

epped back. "You're stayin

linked. "

w you're safe, and the only place I can guarantee that is within arm's r

ve with him!"

rway. He looked back over