fingers found the familiar, smooth shape of his phone. He pulled it out, a flicker of hope rising in him. If h

t again, holding it down. The screen remained blac

itting beside him. He slipped the dead phone back into his pocket and resigned himself to the

had cooled, replaced by a cold, calculated certainty. He had done what was necessary. Andrew was headstrong, but he

s the head of his fam

, sir," the voice confirmed

ounts. His friends, his known contacts. If he attempts to borro

stood,

He wanted him to feel the f

hed his tie, his composure rest

d a small hiccup with Andrew, but it's nothing to be concerned a

re seated in the opulent drawing room. Victoria, dressed in an elegant

ully calibrated mix of concern and affection

senses soon enough." He looked at Lawrence, his expression firm. "Our merger will p

mattered. Andrew could fight all he wanted, but in the end, he would do as his father said.

arking lot of a modern, clean-looking apartmen

broken only by the drumming of rain on the roof.

he couch. You do not enter my bedroom. Two: you don't touch any of my thin

ed at her, his gaze steady. He

said, his v

hen they both got out of the car, making a das

dings. It was a far cry from the marble-floored foyer

ment. As she unlocked the door, a faint sc

as cozy and tastefully decorated. It was clear s

ctuary. The irony was staggering. He, Andrew Espinoza, who owned properties on three contine

the door and pulled out a pair o

, placing them on the floor in front of him. "Take off your w

sat on the small entryway bench, removed his ruined Itali

e night he'd had, it felt like the first genuine, uncon