LA

-soled heels clicking an aggressive rhythm against the pristine marble. Her eyes,

oice rising. "Did you follow me here? Are you cleaning the floo

flinch. The memories of her past cruelties-the whispers, the shoves in the hallway, the day she and

to fuel her rage. Seein

with contempt. "Pathetic. You don't belong

perfume choking me. She raises her hand,

each you to sta

wings towa

my eyes shut, bracing fo

ver c

. A sound like a

n my

f steel. He caught her arm mid-swing, stopping it just inches from my cheek

ng in shock and agony. "Graham! You're hurting me!" she cries,

d, gray stone. He doesn't seem to see her. He seems

something rotten. She stumbles back, clutching her wrist. He pulls a silk pocke

he air

ams down on the entire floor. The lights seem to flicker. The air grows thin, im

onto the floor in a heap of red silk, her body trembling uncontrollabl

n't touch me. It flows around me, a protective barrier. I can only watch, my he

rrifying rumble, the sound of an earthquake starting deep within the earth. He l

reaks down her face. "I didn't know! She's nothing! Our familie

g far more brutal, escapes Graham's lips.

es a button on the intercom. "Marcus

a nervous voic

ace. "Terminate all existing contracts. Cancel all pending negotiations. I want

end of the line. "Alpha... the Northern Ridg

am's voice drops another octa

away, Alpha." Th

sound of her entire world crumbling to dust. She underst

another butto

e wolves in security uniforms rush out. They are huge,

m. He just jerks his head towar

out," he

art dragging her towards the elevator like a sack of garbage. She screa

me! I'm Penelope Sha

de shut, cutting off h

le

l the eyes of every employee on us, but no one dares to move, no one d

he t

nished. It has simply changed its focus. It's deeper now, darker

a step to

anot

loor is the only sound in the universe. Each step is de

ke it's landing di

ed me is gone. The dan

ertainty, that I am now locked