ed the room, a smell I associa

om me, her posture perfect, h

d silk, "Thorne Consolidated is prepared to offe

thick contract across th

iate with my son, Julian. To bring your fami

ract, then at Victor

not as a dream, but as

irst

ering affair. He stood on stage, han

e his family's male heirs

to me.

Hayes, her blonde hair shimm

e microphone, "I was told the Vances possessed a Mi

, a harsh,

old wives' tale.

d, found mine in the crowd. Th

se stories to ensnare

to him, a pictu

orld

ht. My reputation, meticulousl

't stop

om the city to a desolate, hazardous waste site.

chemicals, the suffoc

I died. Alo

known for its unique maritime crafts, had s

iveness, or perhaps the loss of my protective luck, brought econo

ory receding, leav

he very day Victoria Tho

as I pushed the contr

as quiet, but it cut thr

e faltered. "I

our offer. I want nothing to do wit

almost satisfying. The p

rhaps the sum isn't to you

the private

was reborn too, I knew it instantly. But he didn't know I kne

glanced at me, a flicker of annoya

ng. "Elara. Your refusal. A negotiating tac

now. But perhaps, if you behave, we can come to

e, my own coo

And I wish you and Isabelle the

aced by a flicker of con

her expression hardening. "Elara, t

My family's 'luck,' as you call it, is no

rived. The Thorne men, however, were cursed. Spectacular failure, public ruin, or e

a simple disinterest, "that some families are meant to r

you for the te

, then a dangerous glint entered her

I said, turn

as I passed him. "What

free. "No game, Julian. I simply choose n

, as if the idea of me not wan

egun. I knew Victoria wouldn't let this go. She needed me for Julian, especially with his thi