his question. There w

at him, her expr

hat I did?" she as

s answer immediate and

tbroken to validate his own ego, to prove that what t

, then," she said, he

dn' t look back, just walked calmly toward her apartment building, the

s waiting by his door. It was her neighbor, a kind-faced

ing I' d run into you. I was wondering if I could get your

respond, a shad

ws

follo

a physical barrier. His face was

Dawson snarled, his voic

Dawson' s furious face to Ellery' s impassive one, mumbl

atience finally wearing thin.

ou doing her

, his expression sullen.

y excuse. She

ank

er to anyone," he comm

asked, her voice

d, as if that were reason eno

ve cashmere coat and sh

is on you

signal to the neighbor, to a w

g his lips. He hung it himself on the exterior doorknob, a flag of ownership

he coat off the doorknob, walked to the trash

was the social event of the season, and as Dawson' s chief secretary,

wson arrived i

my changing room. Make

nzie in tears, holding up a magnificent couture gow

her voice trembling. "The dress you pr

It had been cut with scissors. She looked at Kenzie' s perfectly manicured hand

he game i

them send over a replacement," Ell

o time!" Ke

fice. It' s part of the conting

special!" Kenzie refused every soluti

commotion, came in

nd pleading. Then, she looked at Elle

soft, tremulous whisper. "Maybe..

tened. The humilia

e. "As your chief secretary, Mr. Parks, it is my duty to represent the

to bring you anothe

ng Kenzie' s own excuse against her. "The

bled. She turned to Daws

This night is so imp

ked from Kenzie' s tear-streake

ice leaving no room for arg

, my respon

, his tone sharp. "I' m not askin

ep breath, then nodded. She walked into the attached bat

hip to her thigh, exposing a long gash of skin.

' s perfectly tailored gown,

" she asked, a triumphant,

ed on Kenzie, completely oblivious to the sta

look. "Hurry up, Ellery.

rn, revealing dress. The woman who had been forced to

be a disgrace? I' ll be the most s

n, she ripped it further, transforming the vulgar gash into a daring, deliberate, thigh-high slit. She

miliated, she was going t