Woke Up Engaged To My Rival

eparing for was nothing compared to the

ungs seizing as if she had just s

d bird. Cold sweat slicked her forehead, matting her hairline. The sensation of the dream was still there, physically impri

chest, trying to regulate he

ust a ni

the dream, the man kissing her hadn't been Andre. The man pinning her again

ed out of bed, grabbing a pillow and hurling it with all her strength against the

issed into the sile

to stabilize. The steaming spray hit her skin, shocking her system, washing away the phantom sensation of Charls's hands. She scrubbed her skin until it turne

, the board pressure, the constant, exhausti

ale, eyes wide and haunted. She wiped the glass with her hand, forcing herself to look at the wo

zzed on the

ed at the screen. The c

y smile broke through her hard expression, changing her entire face.

dr

the sidelines, of supporting his art discreetly, of waiting for h

re like armor. Her fingers trailed over the fabrics until they stopped at a garment bag in the ba

as a

rrupted her thoughts. "M

out, her voice regai

and in the center of the closet. "And you have the v

was grounding. It sharpened h

l request from Silas. She tapped the green bu

screen. The background behind him was a blur of a noisy

er tone. She checked her reflection, smoothing the sil

"Big plans? The 'change y

to check on the velvet box tucked inside. The platinum cufflinks she had custom-ordered for An

with my sister?" Silas laughed. "G

ep breath, picking up the velvet

ed in. Her driver, Thomas, held the door of the Maybach open. Eve slid into

ice, Ms.

es

teel and glass monuments to capitalism blocking out the sun. As they passed the imposing, obsidian-glas

arrogant, shark of a human being. The memory of

er head vio

hone and opened her

ght. I have something

r thumbs flying ov

. I have somethin

alms began to sweat. This was it. Tonight, she would

terprises, her secretary, Len

Hudson Yards project," Lena said, her voic

woman in the champagne dress

octave. "And get me the file on Wiley's zoning permits

Wiley under her breath. But beneath the anger, beneath the business s