ow distorting the world outside. From the Port Authority, a taxi ride through Queens and out onto the Long Island Expresswa

service gate she knew would be unlocked. Pushing it open, she stepped onto the manicured gr

es flicking over her drenched form with a barely concealed sneer.

't want the marble s

y boots. The cold of the marble seeped through her socks as she walked past him, ignoring the servants who averted

ck cloud of cigar smoke hanging in the air around him. Her stepmother, Judith, was perched on a velvet sofa, a teacup

He simply picked up a thick file from his desk and tosse

, his voice devoid of any warmth.

htly. "I thought Cecelia w

r younger sister, Cecelia, stormed in, wrapped in an

ing corpse! The man has some rare, degenerative di

ve arm around her. "Of course not, darling. You deserve t

up is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. We need the capital injection that will be released from the Sterling famil

a slow, mocking smile touchin

awer, and pulled out a small, ornate rosewood box. Elea

verything your mother left in the family vault-every letter, every pie

nds, hanging at her sides, clenched into tight fists, the nails biting int

e of the most powerful dynasties in New York, wasn't a punishment. It was an oppo

se down. She let her shoulders slump, her eyes fall to th

, gold-plated fountain pen. But she didn't sig

ked up, and the defeated look was gone, replaced by a

deed to my mother's trust property in Manhattan. The one

h screeched. "That's pa

ed the pen back onto the desk with a clatter and turne

rs was more than he could bear. He stalked to the wall safe, spun the dial with trembling fingers, and pulled out a p

ous care. Satisfied, she took the pen again. This time, her signature w

er mother's jewelry box. Without anot

ecelia called after her, her voice dripping with malic

them. She turned her head just enough for

ce a soft, venomous promise. "I'm sure I'

. The mask of submission fell away, leaving only the cold, hard cert