first time, the idea that she might actually leave him-that he might

Enterprises arrived at Sterling Corp. It detailed a massive capital investment, en

rictly conditional upon Mrs. Chloe Sterling being reinstated to the project an

rd Sterling's office cou

door. He had been sent as the family's emissary, his

e window, sipping tea, the picture of

trained. "The Beaumont investm

saucer. A small, humorless smile played on her lips. "Needs me? Do you mean the com

d hard, his pride crumbling. He walked fu

is voice dropping to a pleading whisper. "For the

u referring to the five years based on a fake marriage certificate? O

from his face. He stared at her, his mouth opening and closing, b

you know?" he fi

, her cold, unforgiving eyes watching him

ing for her hands. "Chloe, I'm so sorry! I never meant to... It was my moth

lf-serving lies. She pulled her hands away

he rose from her chair, standing over him, a figure of abso

a desperate, pathetic hope. "An

stone. "Kasey Webster is to be removed from the Seacrest Bay project

franticall

el, brilliant light dancing in

r, baffled. "A.

ginning. I want a grand, public proposal. I want you on one knee, in front of everyone, with the most expensive ring yo

asking dawning on him. This would be a public

your love? That's fine. I'm sure Damon Beaumont would be fascinate

career, his inheritance, his e

. "Alright," he whi

he terrifying new chasm between them. As he stepped closer, Chl

she said, her voice laced with contempt. "It's giv

looked down at himself as if seeing the invis

" he stammered, turning and fle

m go, her expres

uld be an instrument of torture. And she couldn't wai