-Chase pointed a finger at Caprice. "Just some nobody Kendell brought along," he said, his

dge Chase's words with a blink. He slowly, deliberately,

ckled down his temple. His expensive smile had comple

s the silent room with perfect clarity. The calmness was more frightening than a sc

g to be sick. The glass trembled in his hand, amber liquid slos

k with fear. You could hear the faint crackle

e was gone, replaced by the careful deference of a man who knew exactly how much

dell, cold and sharp. "Don't be

lenched, his hands curling into fists at his sides, but h

egan-had just dismantled two of the most arrogant people in the room

lm up. It was a beautiful hand, long-fingered and elegant, but it felt like

The words were soft, but

t hear it. Every instinct screamed at her not to take it, not to obey. She remained seated, froz

onlookers. Someone whispered "no way" from the ba

t inches from hers. She could see the fine weave of his suit, the pulse ticking slowly at his temple-steady, patient,

er ears only. "That's a lovely dress. Fr

h, every faded thread. She was transparent to him. A hot wave of shame washed over her, so intense it made her dizzy. It wa

e, desperate rage-the last ember of a girl who had spent mont

feet. She shot up from the seat, her hands coming up

went deat

ed a drink on his sleeve had his firm crushed within a week. A senator's son who mocked him at a charity gala watched his

Zara dress had just shoved him in

The silence was a held breath