or, the water hissed-mocking, relentless. He was in

r crime scene. Minutes passed. Maybe an hour. The numbness crept in slowly,

ight. The black granite refrigerator threw her reflection back at her-wild eyes, t

ned herself into a gray pencil skirt and stiff white blouse-her armor. The st

, the show

. It meant he was stepping out, reaching for a to

t wait to

elevator swallowed her whole. As the doors slid shut, she caught one last glimpse of

ped the ca

was still aro

e'd look. So she wandered. Manhattan swallowed her-neon and sirens an

ur-hour diner in the East Village. She sat in a cracked vinyl booth an

ng rush began,

amp wool. as the train lurched. Every jostle sent a fresh wave of nausea through h

d whipped between the skyscrapers. She welcomed the

d through the revolving doors into a lobby designed to make people feel small. Sixty-fo

ators when the click of desi

ook what the c

acked into submission, face set in aristocratic disgust. Beside her, Preston lounged against a pillar, h

unshine. Ro

son was a nuisance. The

Ster

d Preston needs a new personal assistant. Someone... dedicated." Sh

s being handed down from one Sterlin

Any transfer ha

y do here." She stepped closer, her whisper carrying to every corner of the lobby. "J

s on her-curiosity, pity, scorn.

is. The CE

ace b

ive elevat

from his shower. Every inch the untouchable CEO. His eyes swept the scene-his aunt,

s. Help me. Pleas

thing flickered in his gaze. A j

gone. Cold

. "I was just telling your little pet about her new p

Her world narrowed to

s cufflink. His ey

lling, Aunt Eleanor.

n't just allowing the humiliation.

for her cheek. "See? The boss app

The nausea that had been churning all morning erupted. She sla

bled back. E

angerous flicker of possession

h cramped. Bile scorched her throat. She clapped a hand over her mou

!" Eleanor's v

sperate flight, a storm building in his gaze.

ok of pure venom that made the

he snapped at his assist

by, following her path. The crowd p

ng into the toilet. Nothing came up but dry, painful heav

om door sl

te click of heels a

e fr

sn't over. It wa