Keira had been summoned at nine, after the household had settled into its nighttim

ed it with a flourish, set it aside. Only then did he look up,

ay hard," he said. "I

eira said. "I was

ot pride, exactly. Recognition. The look

n percent of Vaughn Group. Non-voting shares. Transferred to you on your

It sat on the desk between them

ther's trust. Non-voting, as she specified. Transf

s excessive. It dilutes Blair's positi

er grandmother, young and fierce, standing before a building of her own design. The Vaugh

use she knew you would try to keep it. Because she

. "The trust has conditions. You have to

aying the role you assigned me." She walked back to the desk, placed her hands flat on its su

the color of old as

skirt, adjusted her sleeve. The gestu

nheritance hostage, using it to force her into a marriage she doesn't want. I mention the seventeen percent. I m

was not a pleas

recover eventually. You

e. His knuckles were white. "You

ira moved toward the door. "Take the night. Think about y

er. She didn't hurry down th

p trembling. But they didn't completely stop. She had played