every moment of the day Damien's face as he told her he needed someone he could trust,

elt so guilty

throom. The mirror returned a stranger's stare, hollow

're falling apart. G

together when everything

ey for new clothes. Just sufficient for food. This job was all

t the cold window and watched the city stream past. People were

t 7:15, earlier than usual. Befor

was on in

where she'd left it, tiny and perfect. She touched one o

. He trusted me

the office

dn't slept either. Crinkled shirt. To

ou're early," she s

ldn't

apping her face's exhaus

"You look

his mouth. Come in. 'I wa

en glowing with spreadsheets she couldn't make head or tail of. "What happened in here?" "Research.He ran

the source

"The person who leaked those documents knew exactly what they were doing.

h churned.

I cannot pro

tiny crack in his armor she wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't been watching s

or him, her

rd before she could s

at?" "Have a seat. "You look

ell" "

e that made him listen. He sat

m. "Relax, relax."

ieve

ensed at first, then slowly his muscles started to relax under her fingers. "Emma..." His v

work. His shoulders quivered with the breath he had apparently held

houlders, her fingers following the hard lines of muscl

man feared

onster the boa

t a tired, lonely man wh

le and close. Her hands cea

she beg

" The door of the

got a problem. "The New York Times just did a st

warm moment shattered like glass. "What?" "They're saying you

s pale. "Th

ready. "The Board's convening an

is hands at his sides. "This

kill you before the vote. Make you

was Victor's plan, frame Damien, make up

othing. No files found.

the company is feeding Victor information," Damien

for a moment. Long enough, just, f

nks it

Noah cut in. "But you have to consider Damien. "The person

face of Damien. He

wly. "Have you heard

hung there

ue. I was hired by Victor Hayes. He's paying me to take yo

n her mind. The bills. The

t because she was too weak to hold her tongue. "

as a tast

moment. Something flickered in

ticle. "I need to see exactly what they're claim

een Emma and Dam

ng out at the city, his back stiff and cold. "Go to work," he sa

name was

hut the door behind her. She slum

guesses. I lied s

ocent and green. Tears pricked

ving. And I'm on fire.

was inte

nd spinning. Telephones Papers. Maintaining his schedule as smoothly

called

elp?" "Just checking up on you." Smooth. Hap

isn't it? "My

htly. I didn't give you t

Damien knows someone's feeding me information. And he's looking ar

p me out of him. "Going

yes. "He won't

comes he'll be too distracted to see the last bl

ng your thing. Keep him thinking you are. When

ne wen

face in her hands. She felt like screaming. I wanted t

uldn't

as ca

d his office

He looked as if he'd bee

tonight," he said. We've

Bring your laptop. "We're go

't locate u

im. They headed down to the parking gar

assenger side d

without a word. 'Where are we going?' she asked again. 'My apartment.

ted. His flat. On m

er window, her mind a whirl of fear and guil

vate elevator, pressing a button as the doors closed. "M

y take m

"Cause I got to trust somebody.

eart

y. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the whole city. Modern f

ke yourself comfortable,' he said. "

er room, leaving her a

living room, surrounded by his

e of a woman on the

e Damien, same eyes, same sharp jaw, s

moth

lightly, imagining the life behind t

she was about to destroy. "I d

ouldn't have-" "That's all right. He moved closer and stopped next to her. This is the only p

wasn't nothing. That I could make it. I could make something they'd be

" "How do

at him. "Because

d into hers. "

ld feel the heat of his body. "Wh

onely, tired, wonderful man who deserves better than what I

touch sent a current through her whole body. "Em

" "Tell me. Whatever it is, I can

hope, the vulnerability, the d

to shatter. "I was

breath and pulled ba

l stockholders' meeting. To-morrow. He's presentin

blood r

e is not going to wait three w

at him, tho

al play. Tomorrow he

at I've given hi

n't give hi

Victor had a

ck, sinking certainty,

ow. And Emma never had anoth