appeared to carry their echoes. At her floor-to-ceiling window, Sloane could see the glittering, expansive city below, a mockery of the mayhem that was

er ship was absorbing water after he had

ing conference call. The normally steadying anchor that is Holt Callahan's voice had been

!" almost yelled Walker Boone, one of the more senior members. "The Apex fail

cal reaction, Walker," despite the fact that her hand was perspiring as she held the phone.

warfare tactics felt abruptly dull and insufficient. Instead of hiding behind attorn

tched face. "Sloane, the first analysis is harsh. Many of our institutional investors f

what it means." Her eyes were small, icy points of fire reflecting the city's lig

red as she composed statements and dictated emails to their legal team. Beneath the ceaseless busyness, however

rrassing one. She was the co

mained as the first glimmer of d

m disuse as she said to Ca

up. "What? Sloane, the legal team's strategy meeting is schedu

her bedroom. An hour later, she was driving her black Aston Martin through Austin's awakening streets, saying, "I know how to stop him." She did

f, audacious, cutting-edge, and completely indifferent to custom. She turned off the engine and waited for a while, observing the young, casually dressed workers as they came in, all

with the sound of Walker Boone's frantic words. She witnessed the kingdom she had de

ted the

ished concrete floor. A purple-haired receptionist glanced up, her grin wavering as she re

e background clamor as she decl

ingman isn't available, I

ght Sloane's attention as she looked about the space. She acted without wait

ion. He had a half-eaten breakfast burrito on an adjacent table and was standing at a whiteboard

ding hand froze. A gradual, self-aware smile

Take a look at what the cat brought in. I now be

ment on his face. He glanced from Rhett's victorious ex

ed voice, "I need to ta

t combat as Rhett kept her eyes for a long time. He jerked h

ving a second, more stern glance from Rhett, he grudgingly

frontation had a subdued soundtrac

ing, "I have to admit." "This capitulation is quicker than I thoug

rrender." Her posture was tight as she stepped further

e has even been fought, honey, you find yourself in the center of

"The morals clause is being used by the board. Our previous association's scandal has g

or a handsome actor to stand next to you during a news conference

ou must be the one. The

amusement on his face. He stepped toward her

his gaze, to not flinch from the intensity in his. "The scandal will be neutralized if I make amends with my lawfu

ve behind those whiskey-colored eyes. The calculations and changing variables wer

dogs, right? To prevent my career's most lucrative play. to act like your devoted, peace-making husband.

er when said that way

ed, "What's in it for me?" "Aside from

ly money she had left that he might be

whispered, "Name your price." An appointment to the

stopped short of his eyes. Before she could respond, his fingers were b

he mockingly caressed her jawline with his thumb

as he leaned in, his mouth

f you is w

cked up a napkin from next to the breakfast taco that was left behind

tated in a firm, flat voic

art. She pushed herself forward with her l

umber. It was

address. H

eath it. 8 p.m

wild with rage and pure, unadulte

of my wife. You take up residence. You act the part. And you respond to one of my questions. Since

remove all barriers and armor until just the frightened,

up the person she had worked so ha

pkin. This one unthinkable decision would determine the entire future of

. She curled her ice-cold fingers

suggested this conflict was far from over as s

hollow as she swallowe

rig