un broke over Fifth Avenue, bri

s in dark overcoats, their breath fogging agains

her eyes. The cold wind ruffled the collar of her camel wool coat as she pushed open the heavy bras

filled with analysts and junior part

ait near the pickup counter. Her phone buzzed with an automated reminde

it clear: attendance wa

ed out, placing a steaming p

r fingers wrapping arou

ssociate rushing past with a heavy leather

oor, her body pitching forward as the scaldin

vy hand clamped around her wrist with the a

ed securely around her waist, arresting her

rd against a br

p, intoxicating scent of cold cedar, crisp w

caught in

, she found herself staring directly into

ting line of inspection. His grip on her waist was firm and steady, his palm ra

, the sudden physical contact sendi

ot release he

deep, velvet-smooth voice vibrating

less as ever,

ned from h

with immediate, defensive fire as she looked up into t

d an impenetrable stillness that made the bu

throat, lingering for a fraction of a second on the

tching the tipping coffee cup out of mid-air and

ping back to reestablish her boun

rk touched the corner o

hers for two heavy, suffocating beats, a glint

heel and walked through the glass

ment through the floo

. A chauffeur in dark livery jumped out instantly, opening the rear door with

hly into the flow of traffic,

er, her mind assembling the f

ht. The terrifying,

d the platinum bezel of a Patek Philippe Grand C

from her grandfathe

fingers tightening around the paper cup. "

rporate golden boy who threw his weight aro

ous laugh esc

o the nearest bin, hailed a cab, an

ed into her suite, s

cond the call connected.

de tickets for the G

re several garment bags hung from the brass rails. "You are driving me to M

is tone turning

al a bespoke riding habit of vivid, unapologetic scarlet wo

into a sharp,

r dark eyes glittering with cold resolve. "I'm going to t