eway startled Emilia awake from her semi-slu

brushed past her usual pastel-colored dresses and chose a black silk su

idn't accept your gift last night." His voice held a familiar edge of impatience, as if her feelings were an inconvenience. Emilia didn't

per to her face, his ice-blue eyes filled with a flicker of di

said, her own voice unnervingly cal

ill needs me?" He crossed the room in three long strides, his large frame eclipsing her. He gripped her ch

ou and Fann

ack as if she were contaminated. "So you know," he said, not bothering to deny it. "

tter smile touching her li

ore it in half, then in quarters, letting the pieces flutter into the wastebasket. "I will not agree to

remained placid. "You will." She took a deep breath. "If you don't, I won't hesitate to tell The New York Times

fury. "Are you threatening me?" He stalked toward her, the air crackling. H

milia. You have more fight in you than I thought." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "It's me. Suspe

for a flicker of regret. "Now," he said softly, cruelly. "What leverage do you have left? Go ahead, tell the media. I d

t, Delano. A scandal might not sink you. But what about the encrypted records of the South-East project? Or the 'questionable' offshore accounts I've been

s pupils contracted. He recognized the files. They detailed deals he thought were flawless, untraceable. He

If the Lancaster Group goes down, I'm taking the Gates Corporation's entire boar