ter

the day. My eyes were rimmed with fear, the stress between my brows carved deep like a permanent mark. I hadn't

only one name echoing o

n Th

llionaire who resurrected his father's failing empire and pushed it so far up the ladder th

e trembling like a brittle

ing cold, brutal, and utterly void of mercy. They s

nt his own mot

un for people wh

God

der a man

n from right beneat

ane as resurre

might as well dig my grave beforehand

od... I n

ghts. I walked over and watched the caller ID blin

ment is at ex

H

find out and trust me, my gray-haired friend

e phone. "If you hurt even on

hun

ly bas

er awaiting judgment. Steeling myself, I grabbed my documents, walked to my car, and drove toward the Thorne

insist on b

my blue blouse, trying to flatten out nervous creases more than actual fabric wrinkles. Inhaling deeply, I f

evil'

my skirt. The floor was sleek and modern white, gray, and black tones

raphina

walking toward me. Late twenties, con

ightened. For a horrifying second I imagi

iled and reach

er of Thorne Corporat

to sit. As I settled, my eyes darted to the corner

mach t

urveillance, that meant the entire floor had e

en I remembered I was being watched. Looking up, I found

pointed but not unkind. "You're filling in u

es

. I had no idea how Creed convin

nwell, so you're urge

es

g his arms. "Tell me,

to save people

's work more efficient and more pleasant," I replied

flipped through my documents.

Vale, is there anything you nee

e sure my real documents had no link to him. E

d a straight spine. "Only that

expression didn't give away his de

e get this job. For

s, Ms. Vale. Th

d. "Tha

could protect the people I loved, terrified I woul

ded me a folder. "Here are your re

adjacent to the CEO's. There, he told me to wait until Mr. Thorne returned from a

an ocean full of sharks a

s been known for loyalty. For honesty. But fate shoved me into a situation

making my pulse jump. I clutched

o this," I whispered. "Deep bre

ut of it. I grabbed the tablet, hurri

a sharp voi

red an

entire back wall, showcasing Chicago's skyline in all its steel-and-glass glory. In front of it stood a man, tall

you

nd controlled as he cut me off, "there ar

, he t

ir

on me like a p

tolerate

allo

ec

with mine, har

ngs stay

eath

d t

s a dangerous fire

pise l

left m

looking at me... and a