of her wine-red satin gown catching just enough air to show elegance-but not enough to hide he

ttered under his b

. "Like I'm not d

eyes still sweeping the cro

me back in that penthouse

dn't

r! Elara!

rling around her like a brand. The flashes blinde

e crowd

e air

ers followed the

, and her br

s... s

curve like it had been painted on. Her skin glowed, her posture sc

at?" Elara

He stood stiff beside

the crowd, light and polished, lik

dressed and underdressed at the same time. Her gown sud

ht her attention-huge, vintag

ould feed a family for a

ebt. Get out of this nightmare. That ring was

even know the

pers gre

's Helen

ed to date

ht she was

. Her lips pa

t.

h slowly. "Did you

ayed

. "You're not goin

ke a queen descending from her throne. Her

he sm

wa

ki

she'd alr

ccidentally" brushed past Elara-her champagn

s ec

ed back. "Wh

g a napkin from a nearby server and dabbing at the red stain wi

at her. "Are

eyes glinting. "Oh no, it's ruined, isn't it? That must have

led inn

ng not to lose her mind

moved. Hadn'

were wa

ng pic

lena k

at Elara's chest with a cloth she didn't ask

holding her arms out

nkled. "Of course

t exist. "You clean up nicely, Joseph

tched. "Enjoy th

that all I get?

id no

med just a little.

hope you're enjoying your... moment. You l

enching. "Thanks. You

ed. "It's eme

urse

in as she brushed a

stomach

just

t looked

sang, turning with one la

ara spun to Joseph. "

dn't

knew

le

her embar

s cuff. "It's

me in front of reporters and you

r a bored look

whisper, deadly quiet. "Y

handl

't even d

adable. "That's not i

down the middle. She turne

whispered. Flashes still came, even

t another word, shoulders stiff

e window, fingers curled

merald. She had power, beauty

El

d none

hoed in her head as

. Lena and I could h

was the w

e humi

eph's s

o matter how hard sh

ever be in