heeled velvet pumps pressing gingerly onto the red carpet. Every step sent a dull, throbbing ache through the bandages wrapped around her injured

t made Azura squint. Her stomach tightened with anxiety. She quickly lowered

saw Azura, his panicked expression vanished, replaced

r. "There's been a massive change of plans. The client's fiancée, Cecelia Alford, called the agency personally and demanded we sw

t, resisting his pull. "Wait. Cece

ssed, his face pale. "Just smile, look pretty

hickly carpeted hallway and stopped in front of a heavy, carved wooden door. Gus quickly smoothed out the

ogne mixed with the sharp scen

r heart stopped d

om, wearing a flashy, dark-red velvet suit and hol

his face instantly froze. His hand jerked, n

. The guy from the garage. The guy wh

r handle. She didn't care about the hundred dollars an hour. Sh

ged forward, and grabbed Azura's bare wrist. His grip was bruising. He yan

he sweat from his forehead, and walk

olby's grasp. "Are you out of your mind?" she spat, her

ered a blonde Victoria's Secret model. Why the hell is m

handle frantically. It wouldn't budge. It

e. He walked over to a velvet sofa and sat down, crossing his legs. His eye

you look a lot better in that dress

ra demanded, her voi

date tonight. You smile, you nod, and you make me look good

d the charges. You have nothing on me

lk out that door and embarrass me tonight, and I will personally ensure the Dean receives a detailed report about a s

ch to the gut. Her education was her onl

sed her eyes, fighting the bile rising in her throat. When she

r and bent his arm, offering it to her. "

d in a delicate lace glove, and rested it as lightly as

clicked. The doubl

crystal chandeliers, and a classical orchestra playing a sweeping wal

of the Mcintosh heir. Azura felt like a piece of meat on a butcher's block. She kept her spine painful

VIP wraparound balcony, Hunter

ark, predatory eyes scanned the crowd

clenched so hard his teeth ground together. His fingers tightened around the