the screaming chaos of the red carpet behind. Inside the cabin, the silence was absolute. Th

es tracing the sharp, perfect line of his jaw, the hard set of his mouth. He had his eyes

is eyes snapped open. They

ovements stiff. He pulled out a bottle of Evian water. As he twisted the cap, his long, e

e was ice. "Drink. Perhaps the cold will b

eliberately brushing against the bac

ching his hand back. His brow furrowed,

The rejection didn't sting. She could see the truth in that tremor, in

"What the hell was that, Stella? What game are you playing?" He p

ft but firm. "I don't have amnes

ing anyone who would listen that you found my existence offensive, to kiss me in front of the entir

ng. "Axel Sterling," she said, her voice cl

seemed to startle him. The shock was quickly

, "you told me on the phone that you would rath

memory of her past cruelty, of all the viciou

herself. Instead, she shifted on the wide leather sea

ly pressed himself against the car door, tryi

She reached out, her hand aiming for

ld make contact. His voice was a low, gu

, her expression wounded. The sight of her, looking so

ered, her eyes pleading with him to under

ns and deceptions in the most complex financial markets, saw th

very micro-expression, every flicker

ust a raw, terrifying sincerity that felt mor

edict her, set his teeth on edge. It triggered the p

beautifully executed, emo

ossing his arms over his chest. It was a

y twenty degrees. The physical distance bet