/1/115366/coverbig.jpg?v=20260512134830)
required Jacqueline Blackburn to put her entire
on rattled her teeth and made her stomach churn. She squeezed her eyes shut for a fraction of a
land a client tonight, Apex Educ
the security podium. The bouncer, a massive man with a shaved head and a thick neck, didn't even try to
er's license from her bag and slid
art," he said, his voice a rough, mocking grate over the pounding music. "The Ivy Le
sharp sting grounded her. She pasted on the flawles
he said, her voice steady
o fast it left his thick neck looking sickly pale. He snatched
tic submission. He practically tripped over his own boots t
ID, her face a blank ma
avy, pressing against her eardrums. She looked at her reflection in the mirrored walls. Her face was entirel
t's just a
pward and stopped wit
ned with a Persian rug so thick it complet
ere dead, tracking her movements with a cold, mechanical precision that made
eached the heavy mahogany double doors at t
reaths, raised her ri
of an inch. Instantly, the heavy, suffocating scent of Cuban cigars and exp
the door open an
and purple spotlights cut through the dimness, creating harsh shado
she s
sat Christian Montgomery. His long legs were crossed at the knee. A
of the Apex Educators office, her white dress was a symbol of pure, academic professionalism. But here, under the sleazy
ing painfully against her ribs.
started, taking a step forw
to
is voice, but the sheer authority in it cut her off instantly. He slammed a crystal glass
with pure, unadulterated disgust. "And which idiot manager tho
in stalled, struggling to
te. Piece
a bucket of ice water. He t
She took another step forward, reached into her bag, and pulled out the gold
d, the shadows shifting across his sharp jawline, and blew
hing as the acrid smoke burned h
is pathetic," Christian sneered. "It k
step back. Instead, she planted her feet, stari
a thirty-two percent in AP Calculus and a forty-one in Physics.
ssive atmosphere instantly turned lethal. Christian was no longer just
tood
ple lights behind him, plunging Jacqueline into his shadow. She ha
n. His long fingers dug into her jawline
ling of whiskey and danger, "use my nephew's
slapped his wrist away. The impact
Mr. Montgomery, then I am leaving," she
toward the door. She didn't look back. The absolute lack of hes
around the heav
eap cologne. It was Wayne Boggs, a former client who had been fired for inappropriate behavior. He had apparently gotten past the lobby secu

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