ze for three distinct seconds, a silent countdown that felt like h

t intrigued-he walked to

s a small woman, shrunken by age, but her presence filled the room li

cher to Estella. "Well?" she barked. "Why is

. "Jameson has abdicated," he said, swirling the amber

a disgrace to the name. He gets that weakness from his mother." She turned h

s tirade, "tomorrow's headline isn't about illness. It's 'Holland Heir Fle

t Estella. Her eyes were like beads of

ard, "if the wedding proceeds... if the

strength. A consolidation of power. A true un

asked, her voice dangerous

Fletch

ped like a st

roze. She looked at her son-her cold, r

is drink. "If I marry her, the Holcomb shares are voting with me,

he cousins more than she cared about pro

rowing her eyes. "Her fath

wn. "But she just negotiated a merger in under three minutes w

he back of her neck. It wasn't a c

ng moment, then gave a sharp nod. "Call t

e, but at a glare from Fletcher, she whip

ella upright suddenly vanished. Her knee

d gripped he

t hold her gently; he braced

s breath was warm, smelling of scotch and

her knees. She looked up at him.

ter, looking like a pit crew. They slapped a docum

sly. "Total separation of assets. No claim

to the last page, picked up a pen,

he paper tow

ok the pen. His signature was sharp, aggre

he pipe organ began to play the Wedding March.

hed up and adjusted the veil, her touch surpris

is arm. He crooked

her hand through his arm. His bicep

idn't look at her; he w

," she

and toward the double doors of the ballroom, where five