aned as they swung open. The house loomed i

was thick enough to choke on. The m

ter of the living room. He looked like a man

replace, running his paint-st

d the moment he saw her. He stood up, his hands

ofa. "Dad, Ansel broke it off. He

ed his hand on the table. "You insulted the Gi

e, Dad. Not a business merger. And I'm

ert shot him a glare

collapsed back into the chair. "It's not just

of debt?" D

debt. The parchment... the marriage c

orporate jargon; this was Old World underworld law. Her f

s it?" s

is voice. "Tomorrow, you are going to the Gibson estate. You

she

d up, raisi

artist's hands were surprisingly strong. "Dad! Don't. You're

He looked at it, then dropped it t

voice cracking, "they will destroy us. Not

d walked out

ther was a powerful man. He didn't scare easily.

er room and l

ity, staring at he

nt. Blo

d up a secure browser. She typed

thropy. Real Es

d: Gibso

ss D

ond, then reset. Her own firewa

sat

crubbing th

ian's eyes in the garden. The a

g, she couldn't rely on Google. She needed acce

a pile of lipstick and old receipts was a business c

son. CEO, G

ic card. But i

The card stock was

whispered to the empty room

sel. Ansel wa

g for the pu