andpicked, and fiercely loyal. They had built their empires together, covered eac

lounge of his exclusive club with Sha

drinks in hand. The tension in the r

ng the whiskey in his glass. "Anderson.

"Thought I'd keep

eter one, but that didn't mean he wasn't dange

ook the seat Anderson offered. "Vetting is

d. "Then what a

smoothly. "To

ping the table. "We're not your frie

her legs and met Ryan's gaze head-on. "S

ked. "Depend

them both a

in surrender. "Hey, we're

nk, unfazed. "You don't trust

ushton paus

rying to prove themselves right now-winning favor, earn

m want to

. "So, Shantel. Since you're here

her head. "

ike why no one seems

warning glance, but

efer a litt

rigued. "Or maybe you

s. "Tell me, Rushton-if a person hides some

hrugged.

wasn't defensive. She was playing them, toying wi

iked

u're bold, I'll give you that. Bu

ust is earned, not given. And if I reca

shton laugh.

't look c

satisfied. "Good. Be

htened, but he

r

into business talk. Investments,

ng. She didn't interrupt, didn't try to insert hers

ed about her. She knew when t

y about a hostile takeover they had barely

ge from

footage from tonigh

He glanced at Shantel. If there

"I need

sed a brow.

ing lik

d. "I'll

ed away, he had a

kn

going to c

s daring h

ere a private security feed played across the m

't look

Anderson

om earlier that evening. "This was

, didn't scan the crowd like someone searching for an invite. She moved

re you'd be,"

's jaw t

his time, it showed Shantel in the corner of

son W

been talking to when

media mogul, Anderson. He funds investigati

fists. "And you think

's not here

ident-too confident. She had handled Rushton

se sh

. Women like her... they don't just w

n didn'

e already

was-what did

lling to risk