d smile onto her face, smoothing down her

g, gentlemen

they merely offered identical, synchronized nods that felt more like a warning than a greeting. Behind the massive desk sat Lowin

nical baritone that cut straight t

d to booking

He hastily swallowed, coughing into his fist. "So brutal," he mutte

g deep inside her. She marched closer, her heels clicking aggressively agai

ngers moving across the keyboard wi

ng into the leather of her purse. She shot a

tive boredom of men who had seen this drama a thousand times. Debrin murmured a sarcastic "good luck" as he passed Lowin

said, tapping his leather holster. "It's l

ad up, leveling Dane

completely un

ing her foot angrily as she rushed to his side. "Why are you treating me like this? Did I d

important, Victoria. And I haven't hear

ngs not impor

aze still fixed on his data sheets. "I'm just en

out, her desperation finally breaking t

ht of a hammer. A dark, suffocating anger rose inside his chest. He r

p of last night's red-carpet gala interviews flickered. The screen split, flas

own slipping a small, translucent via

er the office lights. A cold dread gripped her throat; she stared at the

about?" Lowin

against her purse. "I left my diamond bracelet on t

errifying, humorless sound that made Victoria

pressed the silver button on hi

e security detail, Lowin's si

bly busy," Victoria stammered, already backing

ing to my office without an

ice dropped to a lethal whisper that brushed against her ear. "And Victoria? That stupid stunt you pulled last night... I'll overlook it only because it

u're talking about," she w

s, aren't you? You must have really fooled me into thinking you were decent." He clapped his hand

e of CCTV footage?!" she shrieked, tears of frustration finally sp

ive mahogany table. He let out a dark chuckle. "I never mentioned I was dru

d trapped herself, she shifted tactics, letting out a loud, miserable sob. "I got angry! I saw you with that

He couldn't believe this woman was still p

win said, his voice cutting through her crying like steel, "then explain to

force you to spend t

rk walked in, his express

he wood. "Mark, I want something done immediately. Find this waiter. You know exac

tly, taking the photo, and ex

r wouldn't last ten minutes before spilling the orders she gave. Desperate to deflect

furrowing his dark brows as if

ou, Victoria? To cheat,

ard, the words hitting h

ing smile spreading across his face, a smile so genuinely warm it sent electronic

as his secret girlfriend, and she had never once

eaching for his hand. "I was wrong! I just wanted y

hy of standing be

ear relationship for one mistake, Low

will overlook it because I am actually grateful to you. Your little stunt made m

t up her eyes. "Does that me

owin's face, replaced by

lice. It doesn't mean I still d

t liquid. Before she could force another sound out of

t of my

completely erasing her from his space. Victoria staggered her way out

-

ing to calm the storm in Amilah's mind. She was on a flight to see

from las

nd dark, commanding voice out of her head. It was impossible. Every road in her mind kept leading ri

t a new design. But his shadow haunted the page. Her fingers traced lines that kept mimicking the sharp

s grey eyes commanding her ab

hrough the terminal, her heart easing the moment she

iles said, instantly pulling her dau

you so m

smiled, stepping in to take her hea

one of her independent designs was going massively viral online, and that a

y a little longer?" Mrs. Mile

ck tomorrow morning to start w

of you," Mrs. Miles said,

-

e, the double doors clicked open. Tom walked in, carefu

ackground information you as

k you

he pages. His gaze froze on a specific line near the

Lowin's face. He closed the folder, looking up

ever smiled. A smile means an execution is

ch deeper and bring more in

ut this is all I needed, Tom. I meant... is there

boss had suffered brain damage from the drug last nigh

ink about it,"

olting out of the office before he lost his mi

lready permanently burned into his memory. He picked up his personal cell phone

he might panic and end the call before I e

lly composing a single text message. He stared at the scre

ic

-

milah was humming softly, helping her mother p

zed sharply inside the

ped the screen to clear the lock. The notification bann

mb across the glass

hite, and her fingers locked so violently around the edges of the phone that her knuckles turned stark white. He