line

under the prying eyes of the junior assistants down t

chair, twirling a sterling silver cigar cutter engraved with his initials. Kelsi

curious stares from outside, and stopped

sed the cigar cutter onto t

, you're going to take

him, my stom

the blame for a cri

standard

his gaze heavy with the arrogance

bmit a request for a demotio

her mouth wit

ou. If we call the feds, you'll

age our multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio in Boston and New York, all to play the dutiful secretary for a man who viewed me as

d edge of the desk and leaned f

f I re

e darkened

enough. Angering me w

Apex security badge from my collar, and sl

se to be your scapegoat, and e

w. He leaned back against the leathe

me. Do you really think you can survive in

-important face and

re thin

he plain silver band he had given me two years a

e saw the ring, her mouth opening,

straight into the metal trash can beside Kiel

r, his light-brown pupils contr

I don't rec

ce as steady as if I were re

veins on his neck standing out before he

are nothing to me. Don't expect yo

on my heel and walked toward the door, my heels

sie's shrill v

r cheap junk off your desk!

, glanced back over my shoul

ngs in the trash can--ju

hutting the sound of Kiel smashing his co

to my workstation, pulled an empty cardboard box from the bo

ored them, picking up a silver photo frame from the corner of my desk--a picture of

box, Kelsie marched up to the entrance of my worksp