Billionaire's Placeholder: Now Watch Me Shine

of his silk tie. The morning light of Manhattan filtered through the blinds, casting cold, slat-like shadows across the minimalist bedro

ver her but didn't actually see her. He saw the silk robe he bought

wasn't a discussion. It was a not

kin of his neck. She felt his pulse, steady and slow. He didn't lean into her touch. He

d half an octave higher than her natural register. I

d from his suit pocket and placed it on the marble nigh

" he said. "Don't call u

ring in the air for exactly three seconds before the heavy oak door clicked shut. She liste

i

opened a

her jaw ache. She let out a breath that had been trapped in her lungs for two years. The silence in th

card. No limit. It was an apology for his absence, or maybe a payment for he

zed on the be

xt read. The gala is next

ack with on

call. She wasn't in the mood to be yelled a

e looked at the woman in the mirror. Nude lipstick. Subtle blush. P

crubbing hard. She rubbed until her skin turned red, until the expensive foundatio

ain. Not Zack this

FK. The Woman Who Almost

l jolt, like missing a step on a staircase. She gripped th

nal was back. The placehol

ed from her chin. For the first time in months,

as a single, unmarked Blu-ray disc and a notebook filled with her character analysis for White Poplar. The final cut. Her secret weapon.

nd a worn-out t-shirt. The fabric was roug

n the wall. Next Wednesday.

over the keyboard. She didn't search for shoes or handbags. She

new tab. Penalty

rs of electricity burning in the dark. Brittain Austin owned a si

set. She didn't pack the diamonds. She didn't pack the coutur

the black card