ng windows of Damian's penthouse as I stood before t

zed the woman st

g into Alexander's shadow. In her place stood a woman

do thi

ng," Damian calle

portfolio and hurried

-

ors of glass and steel reflecting the morning sun. My

e elevator, Damia

arned. "They see you as a liability-Alexander Sterling's

cted as

his lips. "Don't give them a

I straightened my shoulders and

any conference table. Their expressions ran

. Blackwood. And this must be

cted calmly. "I've rec

course. Richard Vance,

s, Damian gestured for

"Elena will be joining our st

d Vice President of Operatio

fies Ms. Hartley for such a position? Her

m fell

pressing against me, b

on't pretend otherwise. But I spent five years married to Alexander Sterling. I know his strategies, his weaknes

a smile

y. We're dealing with billions of dollars and thousands of employees, Ms. H

but I kept my exp

ch companies he's quietly pursuing and which executives he's been meeting behind closed door

forward

ess something none of you do-insight into the

er mouth, but Dam

wledge of Sterling's operations is

wept acros

ou're taking your concerns to the CEO, not treating h

's jaw t

time, she had

By the end, my head was spinning with acquisition

haustion was some

id

en, and people had b

-

Damian caught up wi

led yours

urvi

"Victoria will keep testing you. She's been with the c

nd I think sh

yebrow. "Is that w

latter y

followed me in

something about Victoria'

-

n the penthouse, an untouch

one b

wn nu

reluctant

le

ice I hadn't h

le

od ran

xand

don't h

do you

warn

ut w

e's planning something that goes beyond destro

rged thr

no right t

a woman like you? A CEO of his standing? Elena, you're nothing but Alexander

ightened aro

spent years making me feel worthless, and now you're trying to p

r who's simply using

e, Alex

before he could

ds tre

he was

er manipulator. He couldn't stand the idea of me moving on,

red, tossing my ph

g lingered in the

-

cony in a loose red dress, sipp

hen I hear

y, his tie loosened, his s

't s

ok my

and two glasses. "Neither

pped

y chairs, the glittering c

nner," he observed, pouring the

's call, but I wasn't ready to invite more do

n't trust me,"

doesn't tr

ks I'm a

way you stood your ground wasn't the behavior of someone who had spen

ting the warmth s

ed. "Like background noise in Alexander

urned to

ust had the misfortune of lovi

ed over me, war

short time, making me feel more valued than

t reflected in his silver eyes and the vu

mia

trust me overnight. I just want you to rediscover the woman you've bur

ld my

to your heart again, I hope you will neve

eath

shrink, charged with an emoti

red," I

He smiled. "I'll be here, every step of t

s, allowing mys

, someone believed in me wi

phone buzzed

screen, and his

t is

ing tomorrow morning. Apparently,

urity

dn't ex

us faded beneath

with you,"

le

If something threatens this

d me befo

But promise

ha

r tomorrow, don't tr

s silver eyes

eve

rept down

oes tha

he brushed his fingers

. Tomorrow will

de, leaving me alon

-

, my phone b

unknow

ear from me, but you need to know

d as another me

Sterling warehouse. Come alone. Before

he screen, my

was Damian Blackwood really, and wh

f to believe I was

y eyes, I couldn't escape the terrifying possib

might finally di