ay, the morning sun glaring off the tinted windows. Insid

kers, a stark contrast to the tension

dressed in a crisp white linen shirt, the top two buttons undone, reading th

et resting on her lap. She was aggressively scrolling through the morning's fabric supply chain repo

to her, taking in her rigid posture, the severe bun a

r an ambush," Gregory drawled, his

uld manage to show a shred of basic humanity, Gre

ra would have fought them off herself without calling me crying." He folded the newspaper and tossed it aside, leani

ndrea's phone buzzed loudly

. A text message

you at the club. His terms are defin

ran cold. Her s

arted to the glowing screen. He read the words. The

ge hand moving toward the phone. His knuckles deliberately brushed against

umb slamming the lock button, plunging the screen into d

g it on his thigh. He leaned back into the

ctave. "It seems your little side hobbies are

o remain a blank slate. She adjusted the cuffs of her silk blouse.

faster than she could anticipate. His hand shot out, his long fingers wrapping arou

radiating off his skin. His gaze was a bottomless abyss of control. "In this

ezed. She reached up and slapped his hand aw

rembling slightly, though she prayed he di

He just watched her, a p

eway of the Morse family's Hamptons estate. Perfectly manicured hedges lined the path, leadin

d. The driver

y at the top of the stone steps. Her unif

a performance for the staff. Andrea ignored his hand entirely. She stepped

Gregory approached. "W

ed disdain. Andrea felt the disrespect like a physical slap, but she kept her spine perfectly straight. She

. The air inside was freezing, sme

a Hunt, was standing in front of an antique mirror. She was adjusting

the mirror. She let out a loud,

eyes raking over Andrea's simple outfit. "I thought

behind Andrea. He opened his m

te smile. "I do handle the dust, Kia. Includi

red. Her hand flew to her nec

chuckle inte

te shock, he didn't even look at her. He stepp

l, but the underlying threat was unmistakable. "Kia is a guest

a look of pure venom, and walked up the

hooting through her ribs. "You always ta

e her side? You're the substitute I tolerate. I ex

a booming, furious voice echoed from the h

e roared. "Bring your wi

mmeted. The real war