ed authority. He smelled of cigars and old money-a scent that

pointing a finger inches fro

ilted her head back slightly, exposing her

a two-way st

physical blow. His eyes widened, the pu

ls as if Kala had just pulled a knife. "He

seems the foster system turned you into

ce twisted. "You have two choices. Get on your knees right now an

skipped a bea

s a dumping ground where the elite stored their inconvenient relatives. A place of seda

's would have sent her into a panic attack. Sh

t the point of death, tra

rite reading chair-and sat down. She crossed her legs, smoothing the silk of her robe. T

"Get out of my chair." Hi

he stopped. Kala's gaze met his, and it was utterly devoid of fear. It was a cold, flat, ana

la asked, her voice convers

ff balance by her audacity. "Violent tendencies!

re the one screaming and turning purple. If a doctor w

s face flushing a de

er fingernails, "do you have footage? A police

nesses!" Ar

. "Did you see me push the vase, Archer? Or did you hear a cr

it. He looked at Karly, then back a

't see it," K

for an independent psychiatric evaluation. And I will make sure the press knows that the Kensingto

, the hushed, panicked conversations about a deal gone wrong. The Zurich merger. It was in its inf

n Corp stock react to a scandal like that? 'CEO Institutionalizes Daughter in Fit

ur f

went de

t supposed to know about the board's anxiety. She was supposed

uine alarm. He was a businessman first, a father second.

atening me?"

"You care about your reputation. I care abou

was losing the room. The spotlight was shi

ined moan. Her hand f

.." she