ena'

the Blackwood Estate. My breath came out in sharp puffs

id

ally d

he fabric stiffening from the dried wine but I didn't

f me right on time. The window rolled

badass,"

rom the adrenaline. The moment the door closed, I collapsed against the h

actually did it." She shoved a tumbler of whiskey into my hands. "

olted. I shoved the glass back at her, swallowing hard ag

t up. "Since when do you turn down w

t me. My mind raced back to the last month, the fatigue I'd

G

nt to concern as she saw the color drai

above a whisper. "I need you t

throom sink, its digital display ticking down the longest three m

arms crossed. "It's probably just stress

cut h

th fr

hands, I pick

. Exactl

I gripped the coun

n's c

n he'd actually come home sober and whispered apologies

from my hand. Her mouth

oice broke. "I ca

ed my shoulders. "Listen to me. This changes nothing abou

l-flat stomach. "He'll use

lready strategizing. "We accelerate everything. The company launched. Th

b, the reality crashing over me.

yes blazing. "You're not alone. And that baby?" She pointed at

elevator doors slid open, and

i

cages. No mor

e space was sleek, white marble floors, black leather furniture, and a single framed photo on the wall, m

ade sure of it. I made away with a

full of legal documents. "Damn, boss. This is a

ng a discreet hand to my stomach. The morning sickness had been bruta

beginning,

buzzed.

"You're making a mistake,

mi

yes and block

the press is calling you 'The Phoenix' now. You know, because y

ed. "Cr

tries stock dropped 8% after your divorce ann

smile spread acros

, again. But this ti

naire Damien Blackwood, emerges as CEO of Vaugh

"Oh, this is go

pounding. There it was, my face, my compa

eached for the comment, Damien Blackwoo

ghed

sing my phone onto the table.

meaningfully to my

om my thoughts. I'd been standing at the window, one

expecting

and the only people who

o

t that

ough the sec

ow did he

, his tie loose, his eyes wild. He look

s him

coat rack, buttoning it to conceal any hint o

move to

time. "Serena. Open the damn d

arms. "Go h

o talk!" H

don't need to do a

rough. "The company? The v

weren't paying attention?

ce fo

t I almost di

ave." He said, and I could sen

tened. Too li

icy. "Because you never se

, his voice dropped

mething from

roz

know? I

His father was

"What, your ego?

rowled. "The pat

Th

ction, Damien. It

ammed his fist against

ps nearly brushing the

ke

My hand instinctively went to my stomach as I moved to the

ng, the headli

iliated as Ex-Wife'

hn the New Quee

's Net Worth Drop

e, waving her phone. "You

ach flipping at the sheer rage in Damien

wood. "This

ing protectively over m

murmured. "It'