ace contorted with

surd! It's a trick! A

And who the hell is Alex Ashworth anyway?" But his voice lacked

n, looked directly at the security

cally, deliberately avoidin

a consortium of private banks. The Ashworths..." He paused, swal

ound the salon, spr

Did he sa

oast dynast

based in Europe, managing t

dational. Old money that makes ne

rlier mood of cruel entertainment directed at Chloe was re

y to concede. Her carefully co

! Nobody has seen her in polite society for years! She's probably dead, or locked away

ealed too much, her connection to insider V

deck, Alex he

orking to isolate Chloe, to make Alex seem distant and irrelevant

o make her pr

ng staircase, her heels clicking with

as measured

calm, composed presence acted like a magnet,

over the stunned faces of Brandon Hayes and Tyler Maxwell, befo

oice perfectly modulated, calm, yet carrying an unmistakabl

eyes briefly meeting Chloe's, a look of profound reas