t made a faint, buzzing sound, like a trapped fly. He'd meant to tell maintenan

him was bleeding red. Every time he refreshed the page, another investor had pulled out. The Bl

ty, the silence broken only by the hum of the servers and the

s jaw. He reached out blindly for the ceramic mug sitting on the edge of his

ed and se

ways been a fresh cup of chamomile tea waiting for him on the corner of his desk, brewed exa

nervous guy, always neat, always buttoned-up. But tonight, his tie was c

blem," Mark sa

ck drop, Mark," Damia

nt the payment by Friday. And..." Mark hesitated, swallowing hard. "Aeth

at had appeared out of nowhere two years ago and sta

ess, no photos. But they're hosting a charity gala tonight at the Grand Plaza. If we want to st

ose. A gala. He'd have to put on a

answer, the do

t was entirely inappropriate for an office setting, and enough gold

s. "My black card was declined at the boutique today. I had to leav

ensive bag in her hand, then at the laptop

ave the company, Vivian," he s

out." She walked over to the window, peering out at the city. "Anyway, the shopping trip was a nightmare. There was a woman in

tightened ar

urgery. Elena had been sitting beside him, holding his hand. She had looked at him with those big, earnest eyes

eded to focus on her duties as a wife first. He had

she complained about a crying baby, a si

did

d. He had thrown Elena out in the middle of the night for this wo

Vivian snapped, turning awa

rupted, his voice completel

ped. "Ye

dy. I'm going to

ala? Oh, I have just the d

oldly. He stood up and grabbed his

I am your fiancée. You nee

. Vivian grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his sle

first time, he didn't see the beautiful woman he had ruine

p," he said,

-

g garage was silent. Mark stood besi

ablet. "But the rumors say the CEO of Aethelgard is ruthless. And young. They a

care about rumors. He just

ge, Mark let out a small gasp. "Sir... the official pro

leek, minimalist digital program. At the top, a

d: *Aethelgard Inc. Welc

topped w

d the name again.

coincidence,* he told himself

to the next page. A high-resolut

er eyes sharp and cold. It was the face he had seen

as E

t's main event: *Aethelgard Inc. will auction

breath leaving his lungs. He re

O Elena Sterling smiled and said, 'Tell Damian I finally took

king garage was silent, save for t

the gala. Three hours to face

his life, Damian Blackwood

*