ian

n blown. She took the service stairs, ignoring the burning in her calves and the fact that she w

late-night revelers and the early-morning delivery trucks. Vivian leaned against the brick wall, gasping for air. She l

felt exhilarated.

e 8th floor, the elevator doo

ur, though her eyes were sharp with predation. She had tipped

allway, counting the

8

locked. Of

a housekeeping cart rattled down the adjacent hall, the maid momentarily turned her back to grab fres

d to round the corner

Green

ne, curled her lips. She pushed the doo

se wrinkled, but her ambition smoothed the expression away.

oss the room. It l

und his waist. His chest rose and fell in a deep rhy

e was about to wake him, to stage a scene of concern

g carpet, half-hidden by a discarded

An intricate locket. She didn't recognize the

g billionaire. She looked at the empty space beside h

artender had mentioned he looked out of it). H

idn't belie

it around her own neck. The cold metal

chic," and smeared her lipstick just enough to suggest passion. Then, she walked over to the sofa and

hispered, touch

rob now, but his memory was a shattered mirror. He remembered heat.

londe silhouette

u?" His voic

r from his forehead. "It's me, Julian. I'm

hands. He felt... satisfied. Physically, at least. But something felt off.

ber much," he admit

sed for romantic comedies. "That's okay. You we

er neck. The silver locket

memory of metal against his lips,

cklace,"

ng it protectively. "Oh, this?

ch in his instinct. She was here. She h

ning a hand throug

t hollow. But Julian was a man of logic. If A plus B eq

t, his voice returnin

of coffee and aspirin. He stopped dead when he saw Lana si

in's eyes

ess straight with a mock-shy

ousers from the floor. "Get Miss Vane a car. And have someone

s,

paused at the door and looked ba

a wave o

spray. The water was scalding hot, turning her skin pink. She scrubbed at h

at the tile wall. "St

d out, wrapping herself in a towel.

d-rimmed. Her li

snoring on the couch. Vivian turned on the smal

ticker tape scrolled acro

CQUIRES BOUTIQUE DESIGN FIRM S.

he towel slippe

she wh

. Her sanctuary. The pla

s great potential in the avant-garde designs of S.W. Studios and l

nk onto t

he had just slept with the man.

el; it was a sadist