'S

ars. Five years sin

beneath an ever-growing list of responsibilities. Some days, it was a dull throb at the back o

s one of t

meant playing by their rules, and if that required sitting through hours of insufferable toasts and empt

expected was for Ka

my handler. And right now, she had that all-

say to me?" I asked, rubbing my temples,

gh I could already sense the accusation laced within her tone. "Did

blinked.

dn't quite reach her eyes. "You're not a

ould hav

aware of the invisible chains Natasha Edwards had wrapped around the co

a brow.

on your own, and you still dare ask why? The company

th the company's arrangements." M

at I, a small-time actress whose name isn't even widely know

n your dreams! Let me tell you something, darling-Natasha's role is secured. The Edwards family has invested 30

linching. "Then why

s argument, Eve. You're my artist, and

'm an artist under you?" I reto

time for this. Since you're refusing to co

ne as I stumbled forward, my phone slipping from my grasp and skidding across the cor

hut behind me with

out in sharp, unsteady gasps. The sharp sce

oor, banging on i

oor!" I screamed, my vo

le

t the wood again. "You ca

e was no

reaths coming out in short, heavy bursts. The alcohol was still in my system, and

wn to the floor, resting my head against th

atasha... Katherine... they would do an

ting the silence sett

no

ost impercep

d snap

ut then it came again-a faint shuffle

y gaze toward the fart

a stack of worn-ou

ttle

in a soft, milky white. His dark lashes were long and curled slightly at the tips, framing a pair of wide, glassy eyes that held an

on the most-jet-black and slightly tousled

e a frightened kitten, his tiny hands clu

rt cle

of a bar? There shouldn't be a customer so c