PTE

re talk

look up im

reminding Leo of his place

ited s

and calculating, the same gaze that in

're

t flinch.

u own half the cars

wn across from his father, maintaining the calm, pr

s hands. "You've

ven't c

shouldn't have to call. You

e been handling every

Richard's voice was firm. "

jaw

l reason he had

rd the window overlooking the massive Carter

twenty

nd

it's

sked sharply, eve

, giving him a

to get

ntually, but he had hoped he still had time-time to breathe, time to liv

"I'm not interested in

nged? Find someone on your own, then. I don't care h

th, though nothing about t

time for a r

ime," Richa

sts. "Why are you p

sk, picked up a thick file,

ction report, Shareholder condit

the highli

bility depends on their pr

his sto

joking,"

ce. Investors want security. The media wants a story that

riage will solve t

rd replied. "A stable image, secu

at him in

et married for a

s voice

protect what yo

ed the f

wife to run Ca

red calmly. "If you wan

ammed into

air had been sucke

you threatening to take

ning," Richa

rni

His chair screeche

s ridic

't look faze

tood

he first hint of emotion-

gain, more softly this ti

oice sharp as broken glass.

d fell

the moment his mother was mention

rd ex

ed you to

t tightene

ess is my

ake a decision, soon. Before s

torm had been bui

life he never really chose, at the empire b

quietly b

arry for t

leaned

rry for

d back, e

don't want ma

ed, his expression

ready to lead C

haled

he chair, his hands

is easy for me

didn't

d, voice low

e carried it my entire life. Every movement I make is a headline. Every

meeting his

about my life outside

didn't

cont

as. You drove me into maturity at an age when kids were p

ghtened. "I did

d what you wanted for the co

nched teeth. "And now you

ell s