then, it was too late. Graham Marcus's eyes, usually so unreadable, flickered with something like alarm

hifted almost imperceptibly:

r could've sworn h

king the comforter up with one hand and shieldi

napped. "You want your eyes dug out and u

elax. It's not like I haven't already-" He caught himself befo

ack of the chair, sliding it over his

ducked under the quilt, rustling as she wrestled her limbs into jeans and a wrinkled blouse

legs. *Damn him. Couldn't he tell it was my

ored shirt, and-for a split second-her anger faltered. *Ok

round. Thei

hat morning, she hate

together

y were going to be square, then so be it. She'd take the money. No one owed anyone anythin

d it probably had-he was too old, too powerful, and too dan

speak. "Keep the

e's walking away first, it's me. I know crying and screaming won't rewi

er shoulders,

ect me to act grateful or broken. Once I leave this room,

ice. Her ey

the redness in her eyes betrayed

ard. "I was just going to say

ching the card and shoving it into

e women who rejected hush money fo

ut to let him feel

uck her lik

y subway token-and stomped across the room. Graham watched in disbelief as she opened h

ed back,

at your performance last night was worth. A few coin

et. He exhaled slowly through his nose, lips twitch

e to declare i

hisper this to anyone, I'll tell the world you're a broke gigol

she b

n't loo

gone and her feet were screaming in protest. She locked herself in th

was

atively-l

was that s

coffee," she muttered. "At this poi

She was sweating. Her

tast

liated her enough, she heard a voice

la

fr

fa

mirror, she saw him-David Walker. Unshaven. Slightly bloated. Wea

eart! I though

ders slum

"How've you been, huh? Got that promotion yet? I know they pay you inte

e said flatly. "I'm wo

ll, listen. I haven't eaten in two days. Think you could spot you

hesi

ok like he w

he'd had three

sed to take her to the park and pretend he was a pirate captain. Somewhere betwee

n't have any

your stepdad's loaded, isn't he?

rk to cover my own stuff. I'

m tightened. "Blai

can

ry. "Then ask your mother

t do

eas

r her purse, pulled out the

out," she said.

es landed on the

d it from

shouted. "W

g with excitement. "Just to keep it safe. I'

, do

as alrea

shed into a cab, waving the card li

frozen on

ted to

nted t

as her only

w it w

who was supposed

d and walked toward the hous

lker e

y. Big house. Perfect

s first marriage-Simon, who barely acknowledged her, and

, tried too hard to

forgot to take

e gate and stared up a

as so

ang

*don

h the front door, it open

-blue eyes that alw

ed an e

g against the doorframe. "If

t in th

little scandal's alre

blood

ha

pulling ou

tified: Social Media Intern

cle had

fa

ork h

. "You really screwed

at the scre

did Mom

she s

nd

ing. "Crying. Stepdad's yelling at her.

r slammed shu

orstep, the echo stil

nched h

ad no

mon

sup

he whole w

asn't the

orst

ne buzz

nown n

icked

e on the line. "This is Grah

n't say

a video,"

*wh

footage of you entering my suite. It's alread

h went dry.

answer r

ldly: "B