atek Philippe against the

ecutives. His face was flushed with alcohol, his tie loosened around a thick neck. He walke

thick, embossed business card across the wood until it bumped agai

ht hand, pinched the edge of the business card between two fingers, and

mottled purple. The vein

his thick fingers hooking into the shoulder of

her muscles tensing to dri

's wrist. The grip was brutal. The man let out a sharp, bre

e look

uctured dress shirt, the top two buttons undone. A Richard Mille watch peeked out from h

Cade

de was the phantom billionaire Evan s

nch. The hedge fund manager dropped to hi

was low, a dark rumble that

ally ran back to his booth, clut

lk handkerchief, and wiped his fingers. He tossed the silk onto th

lippe resting next to Adeline's glass. He tilted his head,

at down. He crossed his long legs, his kn

ch," Cade stated. I

flush of heat to her cheeks, but her mind was razo

your friend's honor?" sh

whiskey. "I do not care if Evan chokes on his own ambition. I am

he physical gap between them. The scent of her cold c

ispered, her tone laced

the iris. He did not pull back. He leane

in his neck was beating a steady, heavy rhythm. A reckless idea sp

x finger and traced the edge of Cade's collar.

ly locked. He stared down at her hand, then back up to her

murmured, a wicked smile playing on h

s around her wrist, halting her movement.

you burned," Cade warned,

She twisted her wrist, breaking his grip w

them thickened,

phone vibrated against the mahogany bar. The screen

A slow, predatory grin spread across his face.

hless. "Adeline lost her mind. She assaulted me. She took my watch

t and grabbed the condensation-slicked glass

drops of water fell directly onto the

hrough his teeth. A deep, guttu

rfectly through the

e other end. "Cade? Did I..

was smiling at him, her eyes

the phone, his eyes neve

d the power button down until the screen went