M

r full attenti

glowering-not because I've done anything wrong, b

s that unfortunate case you always hear moms telling their kids about

mewhat shockingly violent fantasy about stapling his beautiful lips together with the st

And he only has

XHAUSTED from tending t

than ten consecutive seconds to myself all day long. And only now, with the clock

quad espressos, I woul

g my past self for being dumb enough to buy these heels half a size too small just because

te working like a machine for every bit as long as I have today. His suit is impeccable, as is his dar

I asked you

morning. New chairs have been requested for the boardroom on Floor Seventeen and I will check on delivery dates. I'm moving your 2:00 P.M. to your 11:30, movi

ose bad boys onto my own face, I really might. They're dark and expressive a

one. You specifically requested 'no snark' after the

H

ble from the infamous Mr. Oryolov, CEO of Bane Corpor

ity product came in for a meeting and tried to negotiate higher prices. At the end of the idiot's hardball pitch, Ruslan simply lofted an eyebrow

t me to the verge of tears and beyond plenty of tim

s lasted six, four, and zero-point-five months, respectively, before running screaming for the hills

tiny is not easy. It starts early and ends late. It's harsh. Fast-paced

for one reason and one

y. I stuck around for three reasons. And

the gap. Caroline is only six, but she's already practicing her "smizing" and chintucked selfie poses. She's going to break so many boys' hearts as soon as I let her get an Instagram account. Josh, at eight, is the oldest-b

mom will do

ause losing my sister ha

enna died in September three years ago. So that's three years, si

r days since I went from Auntie

, and four days since m

thing else he does. You'd be forgiven for thinking he's a model for

air and focus

d have worn off by now. I'd have thought wrong, though. If anythi

ruck and drooling like a lunatic. This man ran the biggest home security

going to make my life easier or harder, Ms. Carson? If it's the latter, don

t the tone for our

r the department head meeting in the morning." He rounds the desk and strides toward me. My heart

," I croa

my tuxedo brought to the p

I balk. "Bu

ut bothering to look back. The only thing left

t is on fire. I trekked my booty across town to Ruslan's tailor, p

his foyer, I release a sigh. One final tas

rrow will be

city wrapped around me, bejeweled and glistening in the night. The furniture and finishes are every bit as gorgeous as the man who owns this place-and every

for my comfort level. The most sickening part of all is that he comes here once a month at most, usually with on

re, in Ruslan's personal space. It smells mostly like cleaning product, but

ing my h

for the rest of my life. But I have to keep moving. Pe

ould be to get some kind of petty vengeance against the bo

n't have hesita