HIS TO KEEP

white lilies

immaculate. As if they had not been forced to blo

the reflection she barely recognized. The gown was perfect. Lace, silk, fitted at the w

tier. Strong

any of th

other peeked in, her face tight w

m n

ed beautiful, as always. Polished. Composed. B

said, smoothing a curl behind El

e burn of tears. "Thi

ppening. And yo

s

ord s

ied. Not you'll be happ

er body, her life

Or thanked her. He'd simply presented the numbers-how their family's debts had eaten everythin

amian L

Tycoon. Rut

stra

as twen

ight with? She had not finished her master's. She did not

e sai

ng taught how to be quiet, you

-

s private, effi

and expensive secrets. His black tuxedo was fitted to perfection like it had been sewn onto his body. His ey

er like she w

gnat

pa

, take Elise Mariana Hartwell

said withou

ou, E

d

ied. But nobody asked

brant was already closing the book and the witness

was no

as no f

a paper, and a desti

-

r the city like a cathedral-stone, steel, and silence. Damian was three steps in

ed. Gabrielle will arrange your schedule. Me

ed a littl

oorway of the hall

you want

k grey-cold and impenetrable. "Discretion. Dec

ed. "And if

is arrangement becomes unc

e it

. No affecti

But hearing i

-

showroom. Everything was silver, bla

r he excused himself to answer a ca

id not come with romance. But she had not expected it woul

ooking up at the c

caster. He

l conversation. Only ter

ed if he e

ever l

that he built empires the

just one more loc

-

lone the n

f the bed

ad anticipated

a note on

e card. Gabrielle will

t cold,

wasn'

ing it in half and putting it down again. She wasn't

-

yer. Tall, French, and dressed like she

time at all. Mr. Lancaster prefers his w

the bitterness.

nk. "That depends on

oHo. Dresses. Suits. Jewelry. Shoes. All lai

ed what El

if she want

Gabrielle said as a seamstress pinned a

?" Elise

t. A private estate. A showcas

expected

e his

till felt l

-

Elise stood in the hallway waiting. N

of the kind of

e saw her, remov

g wrong?"

t... felt I ought to ask what

walked on. "To smile. To speak wh

. "And if I don't

ted. T

to embarrass

ed harder than

. "Of course,

Then something s

li

look

"You can call me Dami

t laughed

t intimacy. Not kindness. Just names

ith her back to the em

idn't

she was

as already weary