rd the parking area. He slipped into a black luxury SUV, and seconds later, the vehi

lready too late. The SUV was just a dark shape receding

teps down the stone driveway before stopping shor

mind. How was she supposed to go to the off

r purse. She would have to walk the several blocks to

now her finances were stretched to their limit. Her uncle had f

ir, securing it with a claw clip. She dabbed a little foundation under her

ason to disapprove of her on the first day. She had enough to conten

ake matters worse, the bus seemed to take an eternity to arrive.

pace, and everyone he passed seemed to shrink away from the thundercloud of his mood. He dropped into his c

iew on my desk in five minutes,

ustomed to his lack of

e of the few people left who could tolerate him. He'd gone through mo

ded. "I don't want a single thing w

cretary left, Blas, Benedict's right-hand

her?" Benedict

der on the desk. It contained what litt

-too much darkness and smoke. Plus, she was too far from the camera. When s

ght me a folder full of useless paper? It's been six weeks since that nig

can see she was with another woman. Maybe if you look at the image closely, you'll remember somethi

er, I would be dead right now." Benedict swept the folder off his desk, sending papers scat

or-to-door if I have to." Blas stooped to pick up the

get out of my sight

at the door. The scent of her heavy perfume, mixed w

d before sweeping past him a

Now that he was dead and Benedict was the new head of the clan

at her, then closed the

orning. At the front desk, she was held up for

an in charge was skeptical, his eyes raking over her plain appearance. She could practically

p floor, where she was told Benedict's office was located. Inside the elevator, s

ne paid her any mind. They were all too busy rush

dressing a woman rushing past, but the

eak to another man, but gave up when she sa

r eyes landed on a plaque at the far end of the ha

of the president's door, talking on th

hen the woman finally noticed her, she looked Isabella up and down wit

ing no other option, she moved to the door and pushe

red, her mind struggling to process the