biting at her exposed legs. She walked up the three flights of stairs t

The screen lit up with Ms. Foster's name. Elle st

erger tomorrow morning, but the original signed offshore addendums are missing from the corporate vault. He insists they were moved to his pe

in the walk-in closet was a biometric safe. Inside that safe was her mother's original, irreplaceable life insurance policy a

ers out of spite. A cold sweat broke out across Elle's forehead. "I will be t

ors. She pressed her thumb against the biometric scanner. The light flashe

ster was standing in the middle of the room, su

diately began directing the team, sorting the

he wine cellar and verify the v

wn the hall, Elle turned and walked

lled faintly of Cyrus's cedarwood cologne. She walked into the

anel. She typed a six-digit code into the keypad. The he

er mouth, taking deep, ragged breaths to suppress the urge to vomit, terrified of leaving any physical sign of her condition. Once the sickness passed, she reached

oved it deep into the bottom of her to

eps echoed on the hardwoo

e stood up and

ore a tailored charcoal suit, his tie l

ike a thief, Elle?" Cyrus ask

Foster asked for help with the audit. I was jus

ehind him and slammed the closet door shut.

at her tote bag. A cruel sneer twisted his lips. "Stea

htly against her chest. "I am not a thi

ver her. He raised his hand and gripped her chin, his long fingers pres

was burning hot. "Did you leave your things here on purp

w, possessive hunger in his gaze

rip. She took a step backward, her shoulder bla

wood on either side of her head, caging her com

from her ear. His hot breath brushed against he

," Cyrus whispered, his voice dark an

ails bit into her palms. She raised her han

rious eyes. "The game is over,

d, Elle ducked under his arm. She clutched her bag and sprinted out of