air between them, h

ling to process. Then, anger flared, ho

ge?" she scoffed, pushing at his ch

d over her face, down her neck, lingering o

s boring," he murmured.

jaw before tipping her chin up. His touch was different

d away. "I am not a toy

to the coffee table, picking up a thick manila folder

bel on the folder read Gree

a fully executed investment intent letter, with a staggering amount of

t said, his voice cutting through

had been desperately searching for all night. It wa

ress, her knuckles turning white. The inter

s eyes narrowing. He stepped c

lose your job, your apartment, your reputation.

g away her armor, exposing the

r eyes burned, but she forced the tears back. She

voice firm. "I won't

phone from his pocket, tapping the screen

sitting across from Kade, laughing and clinking glasse

nds. And it won't just end. I will make sure you are blacklisted fro

her life on the line. It was the livelihood

with you," she argued, her voice des

h. "I don't care if you hate m

s wasn't about Burt anymore. This was somethin

rs hit the cold glass of the wind

nds on the glass on either side of her head

low growl. "You are staying. The only questio

er coworkers. She saw the past-due notices on h

enthouse. She felt the bruising grip on her neck. If

tion burning through the fear. She shov

she sh

oor, her hand outstre

ntum to yank her off balance. She stumbled, her shoulder hitting the wall hard, and before she could re

ce dangerously quiet, "I will take som

e. In his place stood a predator

ther ultimatum. He did

e arm, dragging her to

feet kicking at the carpet. She reached out, her fingers

creamed, her voice

lipping against the polished wood. She was a leaf cau