I

id not

ing at the ceiling, Arthur's word

wants y

t

e

get. Not Arthur

e

t

ith a brother in prison and a fath

ve that someone wanted bad

up on sleep and retrieved the bu

urned

ved. No name.

ered over the

t no

hoever had give

it off and

meone knocke

te but firm. "Mr. Lucas sent me to p

woman in her forties holding

ide without waiting for permission. "We hav

time f

answer was obvious. "To make you look

barely recognized th

s. The emerald green dress Claire had brought hugge

ked exp

e's possession, a gift

admiring her work. "He will not

twisted. "That

rthur Lucas does not marry for love. He marries for power. And you, M

ould respond,

the mirror, staring at the

d her. Controlled every inch

e had

she had

on her finger and felt the

TH

tie in the mirror an

forty

s until the pr

ave been down

hone and called hi

e is

n her ro

call and headed

time for resis

estors were watching. His enemies we

thing standing between

er door and

ans

ed it witho

emerald dress clung to her like a second skin,

ked dev

ked dan

n ten minut

Her face was calm, b

ot doin

tightened. "Y

er voice was low. Controlled. But there was rag

you last

step toward him. "You used me. You knew I w

space between them. "If you had known the truth before you

not kn

her's case have died in the last six months. I know that someone has been watching you for we

pale. "What are y

d. "He witnessed something that powerful people will kill to keep buried.

him, her bre

han see?" sh

uietly, "is what we a

I

ind was

people

er knew s

worth ki

l of this before he eve

old me," she said,

e signed." Arthur's gaze was relentle

worse t

n darkened. "You d

. She wanted to scream at him.

re was

five minutes. Fix your face. Smile. A

anding in the wreckage of eve

s held in the main ball

orters. Flas

her hand resting in the crook of his ar

t like

microphone, his presence

am here today to introduce someone very important to me. This

oom e

uted from eve

a hand, and the

ake a few

. Lucas, this engagement seems sudden.

aist, pulling her closer. The t

she is the only wom

pounded. She

, what do you say to rumors that thi

h f

tened on her waist

people will believe what they want to believe. B

r was vag

h curved slig

spond to allegations that your company is u

e. "Those allegations are baseles

board members have resigned in the last m

coldly, "that I do not tole

m went

at Kiah. "We

stage, his hand sti

e behind closed doo

e your company was

is n

repo

d that story to make me look vulnerable. It is part o

at him. "W

glanced at the screen, a

ld flickered

car," he s

is w

, Ki

he tone of his voice

ce. Arthur's security team surrounded them

r was

he door and pus

gainst the seat.

eside her and slamm

lurched

lse raced

ce was tight. Controlled. "They claim to have evide

d turned to

him. That you are guilty.

s hands were shaking. "

t care about the truth. They care about destroyin

gh the city, weavi

s racing. "Who

did not

ne buzz

e first time since she met him, Kia

e

it?" she

hers, and the wo

uietly. "Of you. Meeting with someone t

t stopped.

ed the phon

was grainy

ng outside a

he had never seen

," she said quickly. "I ha

was ice. "Which means s

creeched

ity opened the door. "

ha

e just tried to access Miss Tayl

t a manila

ok it and

as a sin

ha

pri

X drawn ove

oss the bottom

wo days. O