t ask if I w

tol

ng into my office like he owned the oxygen. "At th

audit prep. "You mean Daniel and th

smirk. "I assume s

is a strategic play or

rmed. You've already shaken the b

ink I'm ready to smile across a dinne

ready to make him squirm while yo

ding drive that cut through perfectly manicured hedges like a blade. The mansion itself w

e door before we e

olly. Then he turned to me.

e were

stepped inside. It was possessive but light, the wa

ce. Portraits lined the walls-Blackwoods of past an

to the dining room be

the top of

jaw clean-shaven. The same scent I used to love

, like tasting

sweetly.

, something sour curdling in hi

ought a thief to my boardroom

d behind Daniel

ia

friend. My

niel's

rewrite the history she helped burn.

surprise. "What a shock.

m through Damien's. "Turns out hear

ugh her-uncertainty. Discomfort. M

el's cheek. "Come, darling. L

stal. The long table gleamed beneath an antique chandelier

ir white, eyes like steel. He

he said

and Ariana across from us. The tension

lk stumbled. And then the

in like it was a contract, "you're b

a sip of win

e brought

"Pleasure to meet y

zing up unfamiliar prey. "You're

," I said sweetly.

s jaw t

ached for

you're...what? Sleeping with your b

n't b

her. I'm building a new empire-with a

le

rd laughed

did enjoy

And you always did enjoy loyalty.

dropped

ke a loaded gun ov

but Ariana squeezed his

with a false laugh. "Maybe we

cé and wore my dress to the altar. Forgi

a bli

You two pretending to be-what? In love?

Eventually. But in the meantime,

ately. His thumb traced the inside of my wr

aid calmly. "It's about accountabili

"You want to lecture me? After

I want to warn you. Whatever you

room, Ariana close behind,

n't move. J

angerous game, Dami

always been bette

me. "And you? What do yo

d his

ven

smi

e firs

ng like we hadn't just

til we were in the car.

o Damien. "That din

eld yo

to do more

something flick

u d

ask what

window and watched the e

m see t

ne being

uld be t