The Reborn Heiress: Betting On Chaos

up in the bed,

the air. She clawed at her neck. Her fingers dug into soft skin, searching for the

th

h. Damp with cold

The air smelled of lavender and expensive starch, no

ptian cotton sheets, and she hit the floor hard. She didn't feel the impact. She

le edge of the sink

ung. The eyes were wide and terrified, not dead and hollow. Ther

small, gold-embossed calendar sat

12,

tilted o

over the toilet and dry heaved, her stomach cramping

ent party. The day she signe

zed against the

slowly, as if the noise were a p

rr

a remnant of a girl who was stupi

le this time. She picked up the device

ngel. I can't wait

age flashed o

d to the bathtub, turned on the faucet, and plugged

half full, she

ered once, illuminated the water with a

ubmerged metal. It

ered. Her voice w

shock numbed her skin and sharpened her mind. The panic wa

is day. She remem

akeup at noon.

e Presidential Suite B, Branch Bre

at him with disdain, believing Derrick's lies that Branch was not

er. Chaos was exac

one Derrick had picked out for her. Instead, she grabbed a black silk slip dress from her suitcase

idn't

d and fluid. She grabbed her trench coat and thr

't put o

ed her steps as she walked toward the elevators. The corridor was silent, t

ator doo

pen, reveal

enjoyed every second of it. His tuxedo shirt was unbuttoned halfway down his chest, h

. Dash looked impeccable, holding a briefcase

ng against the hallway lig

, widened slightly. Then, the mask slammed into pla

h sleep and alcohol. "If it isn't Osborn's little sai

, let's keep moving.

ed. She would have pulled her coat tight and

he stood in the center of th

a step

't used to people stepping towa

nto the loose knot of his tie. She felt the heat radiating

gth in her grip. Her eyes locked onto his, wide and brimming with a carefully constructed

is tie, then back up to her face. He seemed amused. "Do

wn her cheek. It was a performance, but fueled by the very real terror still thrumming beneath her skin.

o something intelligent. "Reckless is my bra

much money that he chokes on it. I want his name in the headlines next to a scandal so expensive it makes his fathe

ed in the hallw

on a breath.

e. He studied her face like it was a puzzle he hadn't see

ced with something else. Somethi

laughed. It was a loud, barking

ing a tear from his eye. "Derrick cut off y

e said, her voice dropping to a fierce

e wall, his forearm resting above her head. He loomed over her, using his

up to meet his gaze. "You get to watch the perfect

drunk act evaporated. His eyes

he murmured, his voice dropping an octave.

blink. She d

e said. "I

uth opened slightly, then cl

out a heavy, black titanium card. He h

he metal was cold against her skin. He traced the line of her col

d. His voice was rough. "Do

nd took the card. It was

me," sh

d away, her bare feet silent on

s eyes on her spine,