en resting on her lap. the

ogetic reminder of the power dynamic. He knows exactly what this is. He knows

r thumbs hit the screen

e types. Do not speak to me

, and pulls the blanket over her head. She squeezes he

ndon is draped in a

groans, pushing the blanket off. Her head throbs wit

tap. She splashes the freezing water onto her face, gasping at the shoc

and picks up her ph

st night. He simply let her have the last word, which somehow feel

new voice messages fr

ls tight. She taps the play

ping with calculation. "Your father told me you were quite rude last night.

and aggressively applies to

the secon

those penniless college boys. Barron might be older than you, but he

and freezes

ht be olde

her gums. The confirmation from her own mother

nto the sink and tap

rsation with him today. Do not ru

nto the marble counter. The lo

own parents are actively p

at, and grabs her leather tote bag. She needs to get to Univers

station, the damp London ch

, she will talk to him. She will make herself so utterly repulsive

age and grabs a metal pole. She pulls

She decides to play the role of t

lde. Did you sleep well? Is your back aching today?

justing his reading glasses, utterly disgusted by her text. The

ly comes through in l

om back pain. My daily ten-kilometer morning r

kes on her

text. Ten kilomete

rassment, but she doubles

t your health. Do you need me to buy you some hair-loss ser

second

rrives in

m the top floor of a skyscraper, looking out over the Manhattan sk

not what cat

he floor-to-ceiling window is th

tches. She zooms in

. However, the outline is undeniably tall and imposing, with broad shoulders that block out

apid flutter against her ribs. She sw

odyguard holding the phone, she tells herself frantically.

e pops up bene

rn. My hairline is perfectly intact. A

looks at the digital clock

52

n horror. She is

ing slightly as she types: How do you know I am

, you sent a screenshot of your schedule to prove you were b

nd against her forehead.

end that

he doors slide open. Adaline sprints out of the

of dread. Barron Cooke is not just an old tycoon. He is observant. He is cal