with his mouth set and his pulse unreadable. Nora,

d her,"

ead. "The girl

just

aught at age 22. Last year, it came back in a charity show. This

eyes were wild, rebellious, and youthful. No make

es she cost?

rent for months. Collectors are threate

ka

s full of abstract chaos, brigh

ture and stated,

g," Nora said. "Sh

brows. "What abou

he talks like she h

"Because s

osed the file. "Ma

it. "Are you sure?

y and carefully. "Fine, volatile

e marrying

s the

without closing th

re came

nty, laughed at the

able crossed his

enly it

Manhattan. Nig

g like bruises. She donned a black dress that was extremely tight around the waist and heels tha

?""Too close behind h

ted to come back as a sad artist?The second voice chuckled.

became tight. The walls leaned. Their remarks were like

with someone to get th

houghts. She turned and strolled toward the door, cool as ice. But th

lis

nen grabbed her arm. She f

weetheart, you have passion." People do wa

yes never lit up. "Th

l and ash. Her phone buzzed in h

d yes.

was nice

ie El

's t

r." One that mi

"Levi W

car." You h

up the

ed as she stood un

ke fingers. She looked up, her eyes furrowed at

lf in a low voice, "Wh

e Tower. On

Rich folks thought the restaurant was intimate since it was all black glass and gold.

ok her to th

s alrea

aws looked like they had been carved by God during a

're

ooth. "You're lucky I

en. "You've been i

I may need

are a

y. "So are you." Bu

a quick sweep of his hand,

out." You ne

And this strange offer? Wh

ng to hi

differ

act for marriage. N

blin

fe. You keep your controversies a secret. You re

t raced. "Are

adl

d at him.

what happens to you. T

ross the table. T

dn't

mbled. "You s

ll of roaches?""he said angrily. "You w

fists. "W

"Because we're both falling." And

er eyes flaming. "

asn't warm. "But yo

same table. Tension

haking from the smack, but

murmured, her voice like

" "You're renting the idea

nk I'm going to grin and wave n

nd raised one ey

at if I

won

came smaller. "Y

Parents are deceased. One display didn't work. Four loans that haven

out. He had her by the neck, in a figu

month." Wardrobe by a designer. Coaching for the press. You will stay in m

ke. "You think tha

that makes

ck, looking worrie

t," without lookin

f I choose to set the ent

ake sure that your name is poison.

was like a

ntrol. The light from the candles and crysta

said, "Why do

n like you, the public will see that I have chan

e doesn't put u

N

er. "And mine can't

r across the table, each

owly. "I need a

until morning." "Then the offer

away, but it seemed like she was sl

her heels clicking on the marble

almost like a threat,

ept g

bed her

as ice, and very purposeful

she screamed,

k at

hing inscrutable in his gray steel eyes. N

e said, " "This is it."

rathe

ide drown. But don't act like I didn't thr

ontract makes

voice. "I think it makes y

"Fair?" You just

you were

ld. She could have

u make it sou

." "Things get worse i

breathing. "

se. No scandals. Don't touch

ook. "Why are the

rper. "Because feel

ed you up

wrist. "Someone

avy and harsh. She felt pain in her flesh

nk about what you want to say before you say it. You wear

tting in with a flat v

f the night. But the smell of his clean linen