sat silently on a leather sofa. He held a glass of

om him sa

houghtful. The other was Kamryn Patrick, dressed in a fashionable blazer, a rela

lence. "Seriously, Alaric. All of Wall Street is buzzing abou

ackground. Alaina Carney. A talented architect, but saddled with family debt and t

ing the direct question. "What about th

legal fact. They can't say a word. You've

laric said, his tone flat, as if

about the trust. We're worried about you. Is this purely a t

age of Alaina, defiant and proud in front of the penthouse window, an

he said. It was both a sta

ok. They heard the protective ed

he type to let things go. You took what he considers h

s assistant, a concise report of Damian's visit to the galle

said, placing the phone on the

whistle. "He works fast. So what's the plan? Are

he was thinking. He wanted to protect her, to crush Damian instantly. But he also knew Alaina was

ad analyzed. "He'll attack her career

delines. The hero-saves-the-damsel routine is cliché, but it always work

ke her rely on you. Trust you. It's the

formed in the depths of his blue eyes. He would support her from the

of the game tonight. I

a triumphant look. They h

of the club and

d the driver. "Mo

himself what his "M

eyes. He had intended this to be a simple transaction, but the pieces on t

sing absolute cont

o... a new kin

would she crumble? Or would she stand, stub