es Barron stepped inside, loosening his tie, a

waiting. A single file lay on

of makeup. She looked pale, but her eyes were unnervi

e. "Is this about the necklace? Elenor, don't be so childish." He assumed, a

her finger tapping lightly

icked up the file. The words on

e Agre

ssed the file back onto the table. "Are you in

gaze was that of a stranger. "I'm per

e of him, the familiar scent of his cologne, the oppressive weight of his presence-it was all meant to intimidat

aken for granted was gone. Her gray eyes were co

said, her voice clear and s

rting to the one tactic that had never failed. A ki

d away. The movement was so sharp

ds were quiet, but they carried the

ad never, not once, denied him.

darkening to a dangerous shade of b

ould not mistake her meaning, "you and your mis

a painful reminder of his strength. He was surprised to find she didn't struggle or

o," sh

"You won't get a single penny. And your little brother with his bakery,

her. He was aiming

ression did

sturing with her free hand toward the paper

every calculation he had ever made about her. He had always beli

ocess this. Was it a bluff?

mposure, but there was none. She was like a beaut

ee. He was so lost in thoug

uitcase. "I'll be sleeping in the guest room from now on. We will s

one thing clear: whatever sti

oss of control washing over him. For the first time, he realized he wasn'

ic in his voice. "You're not goin