ws, illuminating the intricate patterns of the handmade Persian rug in the living r

rigid, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The massive flat-screen televis

with a bowl of warm oatmeal. Her eyes were sharp, const

ctured excitement. "Breaking news from Silicon Valley. Tech billionaire Eben Gill is

-definition, full-screen

n. The moment the image registered in her brain,

violent movement caused her knee to sla

d against the floor. Dark, scalding liquid splashed

y and lunged forward, her hands reaching out to

feel the burning coffee on her legs. Her eyes were lo

w. The exact curve of his nose. It was identical to the ma

the screen: Eben Gill and Burke heiress Corie to

rrifying speed. A loud, rushing noise filled her ears.

ispered, her voice c

rd the screen, as if she could physica

paralyzed her for three years. She had to go there. She had to see him with her

inted toward the massive

k suits stepped out from the sha

step a single foot outside these doors," the gu

them. She took a step back, her eyes darting tow

om and quickly stripped off her stained silk pajamas. She pulled on a thin silk dress and

wait

uards rotated shifts, and Marla went t

om on the first floor. She climbed onto the toile

of rose bushes. She fell forward, crashing into the thick branches. Sharp thorns sliced

her body low, using the bushes to hide from the security cameras.

knees. She grabbed a heavy, jagged landscaping rock from the dirt. She ra

an

in, her knuckles scraping against

an

t. Audra shoved the heavy iron gate open an

just delivered supplies to a neighboring estate. Audra ran int

The driver rolled down the wi

om her wrist-the only piece of jewelry Anderson forced her to w

e gasped, pulling the passenger

ty. The neon lights of Manhattan flashed across Audra's pale, scratc

eet from The Plaza. The entrance was a sea of fla

pen. The biting Manhattan wind whip

dy. Her eyes were fixed on the brilliantly lit entrance of the h