n the floor ne

-ceiling windows of her apartment. The London streets below are slick with rain. She pre

g echoes fr

s around, her eyes darting

phone. The notification on the

has accepted

pty text field. She types out the first words that come to her mind:

reen shifts. An incoming FaceTi

reads: Green P

ath. She swipes the green

s instantly. Her voice is ice-col

u sent the request. Good girl. As long as you cooperate,

edges of the phone so tightly her knuckles turn white. "Show me the cat right now, or I block B

. He knows his daughter is impu

" Gree

era fee

udy in their Long Island estate. Standing near the massive fireplace is Mrs.

terrified, b

on her chest lifts slightly. She exhales a sha

sion is stern. "You will maintain daily contact w

She opens her mouth to

sound cuts through the

ress shoes stepping onto the hardwood floor of the study. Th

She instinctively pulls th

" a voi

ying a magnetic, gravelly texture, yet it is completely devoid of warmth. It is the voice

Corp acquisition..."

ntary shiver down Adaline's spine

instantly. His posture straightens. His face twists

dripping with deference. "You

ath catches i

rr

y at the edge of her phone screen,

djusts his phone. For a fraction of

her's desk. The sleeve belongs to a dark, immaculately tailored suit. The fabric looks imposs

arron asks. His tone is flat, completely

's mind

father as an equal-no, as a superior. The realization makes her stomach twist. If this man has that much

les with the phone, turning the camera so the scr

hrust into the view o

om crying. Her blonde hair is a tangled mess around her shoul

raises her free hand to co

dio, she hears

mm

is no interest in his voice. There is no surprise. It i

rence hits Adaline l

gressive pride. She drops her hand from the lens. She g

mmands. His voice is tight with forced c

forces the corners of her mouth up into a wi

e says. Her voice is sha

the red end-

e oppressive presence of

Her heart is hammering against her ribs. She cannot get the sound of that

or dispenser, and fills it with ice water. She drinks it in three huge gulps. The freez

lass down with

on the sof

s back slowly, as if the

WhatsApp message from

ens th

l deliver the cat to your a

text. Her brow furro

t. He bypassed Green entirely an