encounter out of her lungs. She squares her shoulders and walks confide

crest on their lapels block the double doors. They hold d

et rope. "Jeannette Buck," she

s screen. He frowns. He swipes again. His face

instantly. Devyn. He knew she was back from Europe. He deliberately removed he

n standing near the center of the room, holding a glass of champagne, laughing. Zara

turns back to the guard, her eyes narrowing. "Call

disrespect. "Listen, lady. Half the women in Boston try to claim they're related

s waiting in line behind J

t the Beau

her. How embarrassing,

clutch so hard her knuckles turn white. She calculates the distance to the service hallway,

e a prob

tinctly British voice c

room. He pushes a pair of gold wire-rimmed glasses up the bridge o

erstanding crosses his face. Ten minutes ago, his boss had spoken through the earpiece with a terrifyingly calm

if they are invisible. He stops in front of Jeannette a

ctly over the quiet crowd. "Mr. Koch has been waiting for y

the silver-suited man. Everyone in high finance knows

eat breaking out on his forehead. "

rim of his glasses. The absolute disdain in his eyes is suff

s over his own feet rushing to unhook the velvet rope.

assive, terrifying bell in the financial world, but sh

a survivor. She

She doesn't even glance at the sweating guard. She steps past

ging open as they watch the 'discarded' fiancée walk thro

a step behind Jeannette, guiding her t

g her lips. "But I think you have the wrong p

ile touches his lips. "I assure you, Miss Buck, I neve

ack to the dark, suffocating elevator. The man

us round of applause erupts from the center

he VIP tables surrounding the stage. "He

elting seamlessly into

breath, letting the oxygen fill her lungs. Her eyes scan t

of the chandeliers. She walks forward, her steps perfectly timed to the