scrolled through the agreement o

ths. Duties: public appearances as Mrs. Everett. Compensation: listed in un

r suddenly feeling too thin. She looked u

y m

id, his voice devoid of emotion. "And watching his suffering as he loses you to me will bring

sh. And because of that, Averie believed it. It mad

" she said, he

f of

tated flatly. "I w

w the stakes were real. She wouldn't

ding's face. He seemed to admire her pragmati

nd authoritative. "Initiate a transfer of one hundred

at her e

ty net she'd established years ago, a secret from both her family an

to the person on the other en

ed against her ribs, a frantic, wild rhythm. She stared at her own phone, wa

chime broke

on from her

. She stared at the screen, at the new balance displayed. The number wa

as r

as independence. It was the armor she needed to

ing Fielding's. All doubt had vani

e said. "I

igned her name at the bottom of the agreement.

elding's eyes. It was there and gone in an instant, but

e tablet from her. "From this moment

aimlessly. They were already pulling up to a towering sk

vate lobby and then into an elevator tha

t but screamed wealth, from the modern art on the walls to the floor-to-ceiling wind

his tone suggesting this was an inevita

rea. He nodded respectfully at Fielding. "Sir. As r

h garment in its own protective bag. On a long table, dozens of

would have cost a small fortune. She was beginning to und

e door off the main living area. "As for your personal belonging

. "No. Don't. There's

break. A complete e

. "Some things are necessary," he said.

etting the w

ur appointment at City

physical shock. Tomorrow? She had agreed

nt, Mark, and was issuing a series of quiet, rapid-fire instructions. As if