ng at a hotel, finalizing the legal details of my separatio

ith Alex. He seemed

of annoyance in his voice.

s," I replied coolly, walking

g uncomfortable. "I... I made some lu

ife, I would have been touched by the gesture, seen it as a sign of her in

I said, not bre

, I could hear them t

y," Alex whispered.

voice was low and soothing. "She's jus

k. When I walked back out, Graves was

Alex's birthday. We're having a small party here. You sho

ng. He wanted me to attend my replacement's birthday par

nd he had accused me of being petty and cruel. He had use

miled. A small

said. "I woul

to read. He thought my compliance was a sign of weakness,

ame fake smiles, the same whispers behind my back. I wore a simple black dress, a

happy birthday. People looked at me with a mixture of pity and admir

the keys to a brand-new, crimson red sports car. The crowd applauded. Alex sque

flicker of something-gui

you for coming, Kimberly," she said, her voice drippi

gift. I knew immediately what had happened. Graves had bought a gift a

from me, that this whole party was a sham. The scene was ugly. It ended with Graves

. "You're welcome, Alex.

ing paper, expecting another extravagant

med. A high, piercing shriek th

tled on a bed of si

box, stumbling backward into Gra

g a trembling finger at me. "Kimber

. Graves's face was a

this?" he snarled, holding t

g his gaze. "You're the one who bought

t he was trapped. He couldn't admit to our friends

voice low and dangerous. "Yo

en. "I'm the one who has been humiliated. But don

the chaos he had created. As I reached the door, I he

time. Go ahead

fe, had set in motion the hostile takeover. The one that led to my

and into the cool night air, a grim smile on my face. Le