didn'

hard and cold. I had the sudden, awful realization that he could see thro

art p

Act normal. Don

despite my dry throat. "W

idn't bl

table, but the gravity of th

ing the edge of the chair. "I

aga

ly. "Why does i

culating. "Because, Elena, you're in my office

my jaw. "Th

ch faintly with amuse

ours

e my focus of attention. "Look,

didn'

ched, heavy a

burst into a low c

ath I didn't kn

w this wa

ven c

thinking about the call. But even while reading thr

ce on th

ho it be

cked me down here

 dread sank into my stomac

eave my pa

od may never k

s real assistant. Tall, blonde, and ideal, she gave me a meas

ed. Mo

ing me. Seeing

oul

give him the

ecked the clock, i

un to dwindle the more people were throughout the day. But Damie

sita

d I l

Did I wait for him to turn m

e slowly, tryi

didn'

rward towa

th

her

l no

eaching for

t d

fr

s calm. Cold

ghten the strap on my

't look up from his laptop.

ists. "I have a

twinkle of amusement danc

d to my ch

ed me. "And so tell me, Elena - what

allo

th

d no

Unpaid bills. A refrigerato

. "None of y

mirked.

nto my chair. "So what now?

. "If you want to

but he had already

tretched

t tapping impatiently

d smoothly. "Thi

w cle

kwood was a

uck in his office, one fe

only the

ice fel

it was

cted, while I sat stiffly in my seat, ens

and looked at th

as rid

no reason," I sai

 laptop. "You work for me now, E

eth. "So this i

tly on his desk. "This is 

pectations? Yo

to catch mine. Sharp. C

ran down

ted

p ahead of me, always in control,

scared me

ue part of

aned back in my chair. "W

y, looking at me like I was a puzzl

e smirked.

ed. "Lo

, elbows on the desk. "Yes. I don't hire peop

mach t

testi

f I coul

"I am not afraid

dared him to play a game in which he had

ee," he

nds into fists

get out

, pulling my bag

stop me. Did

el and strode t

ep. Tw

atching up with

fr

caught i

, cool-too cool. Like h

slowly.

ectly into my eyes. "That call you got

ag tighter. "I have no idea

chuckle. "Lying does

rmed in m

k

, but Damien Blackwood wa

asn't careful. And i

away. "Mind your ow

work for me now. That

o. This was a dumb arrangement

sion darkened.

lowed.

moving toward me

made my pul

had to lean back until I w

His voice was impossibly l

ded s

ightly. "Then earn

"What does

tly, moving closer stil

art p

e gentle yet heavy with intent, "is s

llowe

of what game 

thing wa

entered the

lackwood was