Drake household

tal pitcher. "Schmidt Lifestyle shares are down four percent," he murmured,

et away. She sliced her omelet with surgical

ay with a single, cream-colored envelo

ndation Gala. They have the nerve to i

," Arthur added, sliding a s

t. A slip of

entable. Don't e

olen from her-not that Elza wanted him anymore, but the humiliation of tha

ad it completely. He thought sh

laced with disbelief. "To a party thrown

her phone. It

stylist. Make sure she doesn't look like a beggar. If I have to endu

up and st

ton Hayes will be there. He's..

e knew exactly

ner phone buzzed. A text from

nt auction for the North Lot. Schmidt est

t was where her mother was buried. It w

he Gala to play nice.

uins, feathers, bright reds and golds. T

e back of the closet, where a garment

he light. It was the "Velvet Noir" prototype, a gift from a designer

. "It's a bit...

t looked

He checked his watch, annoyed. "If she's n

sto

a second skin. The contrast against her pale skin was striking. She wore

ked dan

physical reaction he hadn't exp

quate," he lied,

ned. Barron's leg brushed against the velvet of

indow. "Don't speak tonight. Not t

She saw the tension in his jaw. She saw th

er her knee. Tonight, she