un, the roar of the rotors a convenient excuse for the chasm of silence between them. She clutched a gift bag on her lap-a rare

state. Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper who had known t

impassive. She didn't step aside to let Elayne in immediate

de past them both without a secon

ainst china drifted from the dining

warm glow over the family that didn't include her. Theodore sat at the

icial surprise. She didn't stand up. "We thought you and Calh

ot usually reserved for unexpected guests or children. She walke

yne's expressio

ive platter of Alaskan King Crab legs

freshly done, painted a soft, milky pink. "I can't believe

ed down the length of the table, h

question. "Help your sister-i

t him. She had dissected threats to national security with these hands. She

ve, Elayne. You used to help the staff arrange the table setti

asset who just saved this family's fortune," Elayn

d is the Director now. And besides, Bianca's hands are for piano and so

the sting of tears in her eyes, hot and sudden. Bu

spiky and hard. She didn't ask for the cracker. She

ac

welled up. Elayne quickly wiped it on her napkin before anyone could see, h

t picked up the meat, dipped it in b

he Debutante Gala tomorrow? The press is going to be i

He hadn't said a word, his focus entirely on his plat

et. Judith took a

topic arose, one

ave your plus-one to Conrad's new girlfriend. We didn't think Elayne would wan

cracker. It hit her pl

ned, frowning at the n

's eyes shot to Calhoun, her voic

r, she's a model," C

o intervene, to correct this blatant disrespect. He met her gaze for a fleeting second, then looked a

pression of shared amusement, but Elayne caught it. It was t

ling over the rim of her glas

he room. This wasn't just a slight. The stolen project, the ti

ought, her mind clear

have family business to discu

her actions. She turned and walked out of

ilded prisoner. She walked toward the guest house at the edge of the property, the place she called her own.

d app again. Still nothing. She opened a secure b

ote speaker at a private

rom his life, both p

"Okay," she whispered to the empty night. "If