an

sed," Mason Grant said, dropping a thick stack of papers on

e pen down and leaned back in my leather chair, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows of Kingsley Tower. Out

tebook. He let out a loud laugh and shook his head. "We just bought out our big

my neck. My muscles felt stiff and hard from si

died my face. He leaned against the edge of the desk. "You look complete

older on my desk. "There is always another meeti

tone. "But you are not a machine. You have not taken a single night off in three mont

rning," I said, reaching for another sta

them. "No. The reports can wait until tomorrow. Put the papers down, pull o

nd his gray eyes were steady. He was not going to let m

my chair. My tall, six-foot-three fra

black wool coat off the hanger, and slid it over my shoul

I said, walking towar

called out behind me. "Do

loors, leaving the executive level behind. When the doors opened into the underground parking gar

and the engine let out a low, powerful hum. I drove out of the ga

he. I drove without thinking, steering the car through the grid of streets. As the tall gla

to a movie, or sat down for a meal with someone just to talk. My house in Brookstone Heights was larg

f my father's voice echoing down the hallway, and the way my mother would shrink back into the kitchen corner, trying to make herse

y to control anyone. But in trying to avoid his path, I had built a different ki

r onto a narrow side street. Up ahead, a blue neon light

id The Blue

rom the business district that none of my board members or executives ever came here. No one in

stepped out into the cool evening air. The sound of a slow s

d roasted coffee. Small round tables were scattered across the floor, and a few couples sat in the dark corn

bartender asked, wiping the co

" I said, sliding onto a tall leather

poured the clear water over it, and dropped a green

, pressing two dolla

y in the quiet space. I looked around the room, watching the sha

drink, drive back to my empty house, and stare at the ceiling until the al

tting in a quick gust of cold wind. I did not turn my he

down just three stools away from me. One of the men was talking q

is voice loud and cheerful. "You need to relax your should

a," a soft woman'

-green dress that fit her soft, plus-size figure perfectly. Her long chestnut-brown hair was brushed straight, falling over her shoulders

second man said, his voice low and steady.

She had soft facial features and wide hazel eyes, but there was a strange

g as he set down three small menus. "What

. "We need something bright and cel

, sudden laugh. It was not a polite, quiet chuckle. It was a real, unguarded sound tha

he said, her smile widening until her eyes cr

led to win a contract, or they laughed to make me happy in the boardroom. But her voice was completely r