pale stripes across

d slammed the guest room door the night before, she had lain awake for hours, one hand resting on her sto

faint nausea curling in her stomach made the thought of food impossible-but she had set the t

the stairs. Steady.

charcoal suit, immaculate as always. His gaze swept the

he called, h

t instantly, wiping her hands

he brea

omething-surprise, or perhaps pity

Toast, perfectly golden. Eggs, cooked just the way Alexander preferred them. She had been abou

quietly, and retreate

lded in her lap, her knuckles white. S

ust for a moment. A small, sharp

d, her voice quiet but steady. "The lead f

table, unfolding a napkin with precise, d

isted on giving i

enial. He was admi

a call. The screen lit up with

p breath and s

antic buzz in her ear. "The producers just called.

ay back into the industry's view after three years of playing the part of a reclusive socialite wife. A chance she'd b

n. "It came from the top. A directive stra

ey M

e water dumped

m. It was

e napkin in her lap. "And why would

first day in the entertainment industry? You don't know

stroy it. And the role he had taken from her, he had handed to Jenna Stone. Harvey Media's rei

measured. She was proud of how calm she sounded. "You h

at her. His gray eyes wer

said. "Some se

d to cry. She wanted to demand how he could be so cruel, how he could u

crificed. It was supposed to be her comeback. Her chance to pr

e it served any purpose. But simply because he could. Because hurt

ack her chai

voice quiet. "But blacklisting an

room, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She grabbed her bag and