ena

d too long before I locked the screen. I wiped the lingering tear tra

n miles a minute while my body felt like it was encased in lead. I had to appear n

ed by the hallway light. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his dark h

you feeling alright? I have the premiere for Morrison Dynamics'

ide of my cheek, hard, the sharp pain g

mbled into the pillow, my voice

the bed. His hand came to rest on my hair, his touch a

word feeling like a betrayal o

t gallery. The entrance was flanked by photographers and r

ghts, was Carina. She was wearing a stunning scarlet dress that

ent completely rigid as Hard

rina called out, gliding

He turned to me, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Athena, this is

ce of my self-con

meet you, Athena. Hardin has told me so much about you." She linked her arm through his. "You know, you look a

steering me towards a side door. "She's ri

shed inside, the door clicking shut behind me. One dress, a complicated affair of silks and sequi

smirk playing on her lips. She closed the do

opping to a venomous whisper. "You're not welco

, my voice surprisingly steady. The words ta

iculous notes and early drafts, only to be told there was no definitive pr

s me, her heels clicking ominously on the marble floor. "I' m

g against the zipper. I tensed, a primal s

bed my right wrist, her fingers digging into the scarred

ed my lips. "Stop!

wrist. The pain was blinding, a white-hot agony tha

he dressing room

onfusion that quickly morphed into anger

xed on my hand g

"Hardin," she whimpered, cradling her own hand. "She... she attacked me. I was jus

oked at me, his eyes cold and

my own throbbing wrist. "She' s

. "Carina wouldn't hurt a fly. I've known her for years. She's t

ting was so blatant, so abso

at me, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. "But my mother's vintage pearl necklace... it was a gift. I took it off be

e looked at her. "Of course, sweetheart. An

k to me, icy and com

nd walked out into the blinding lights of the gallery. The necklace was

n, trembled. The necklace slipped through my fingers. It hit the polished floor wit

My mother's necklace! Athena,

sorry

her lower lip trembling. "Hardin, I think... I

ozen fire. "This is an important night for the company, Athena. Carina is our

This was the man who had promise

on purpose," I whisper

commanded.

protesting against the hard floor. My fingers, clumsy with pai

y from a broken champagne flute, had embedded itself in my finger

He was looking down at my hand, his expression

remaine

er nose in disgust. "You know what, just leave them. Har

rned to me, his tone dropping back to freezing. "And you will stay here

d," I rasped, my voice barely a whisper. The lig

till wrapped around Carina's shoulders, and walked away

choking. The pain in my wrist, my hand, my knees-it wa

was a cage. And I had