es of charcoal and broken colored pencils, the very tools Alexander Vance had destroyed. He had them encase

ed cage, and I, Scarlett

oung to be so jaded, and made it down to the lobby. The city lights of Vance Tower blurred through the glass do

just dragged me back into the private elevato

im light of the living area. The skyline glittered behind

voice was smooth, a low vibration that always set m

the necklace diggi

like the e

so fast I didn' t have time to flinch. His hand wrapped around my right wrist, the one I used to draw wi

nt scar. "You met with someone. You think I don' t know? You think th

ocating. He was right. I had met with someone.

g despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "There' s

rse, and no one would ever know. The world saw Alexander Vance, the tech mo

e, stayed locked on mine. "I need to know I can tru

playing on his lips. "So we' r

on on his interco

to the room by two of Alexander' s larger men. The ki

was on duty in the lobby when you tried to leave. He claims you

a different theory. I think he' s working for Marcus Thorne. I think

he guard, Alexander would punish him, and I' d be responsible. If

on his forehead. "Mr. Vance, I

aced, searching for a way out, a third option. I had to be smarter

ectly at Alexander, my expression s

clear and calm. "He didn' t help me, Ale

t about it, didn' t you? You saw me, a desperate woman, and for a split second, yo

That' s why I got to the door. Not because you' re a traitor, but because you' re weak. And

"He didn' t betray you, Alex. He j

ooked uncertain. Leo looked l

ion, dawned on his face. He saw what I had done. I hadn' t defended the traitor or lied for my own sake. I had pr

tly taking my hand. "You

"Get him out of my

time, it felt like I had a tiny bit of leverage. He thought I had acted out of loyalty. He was wrong.

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