ad a sharpness to them,

. She wore a black pencil skirt, a deep emerald blouse tucked neatly into it, and heels tha

m Derek since his cr

he kn

mean retreat. I

rly, not because she wanted to be, but because she needed to

n marble, elevator chimes, hushed voices over sleek glass d

ent planning suite. But the moment she stepped inside, Talia was alrea

e hissed, "

ena asked, placi

ace. He's i

blood

that would justify her ex showing up uninvited at her workplace. She hadn't

ay what h

five minutes. Wi

N

le

aid

e, the door ope

hadn't heard in eleven month

, heart slamming

t, dark blond hair slicked back, eyes still the same ar

nerve," Elena sai

k surrender. "Relax. I'm not

look. Do you want m

f her head. "Five minutes.

mergency stairwell where voices wouldn't echo and no cameras

do you

u're planning the Maddox G

our co

he said, pulling his phone from h

. "That's none of y

ll have access to certain people in press circles. And I know

hed at her sides. "

"It's a warning - and

t the gala. Maybe a chance to rub shoulders with Grayso

rned, wolfish. "So

he said

ld think

need to.

he finds out what you kept from him? That you were once part of a major internal investi

me down with you. And I didn't press charges becaus

arkened. "You were n

were neve

him and opened t

is ugly," he c

w clenched. "I

ter was still crawl

t want to - but because she didn't want Derek

time. Space

on could

he VIP dinner segment of the gala, he studied her with th

here," he

inked.

but your mind is five floor

wly. "It's noth

lie t

didn't sound like an accusa

hewing on her lower lip. "De

ely changed, but h

did he

me. Threate

e dropped. "Wh

pe. He's all charm on the outside, rot undern

doe

ut through the

he said

ticked, but he

use.

ntacts yo

hand

to han

tective boyfriend speaking, or the man

to fix you. Or control you. But I do want to protect what we're buil

haled

around it anymore. They we

er thi

e gala," she said. "Or near

" Grayson said. "He

met hi

u," she w

The weight of the truth - all of i

e table and gently touched her h

een them - bu

time, she wasn't surviving

er truth. With someon