ailer, holding the phone to her ear with one han

ed. "'The Billionaire and the Beaut

Just make sure you don't lose that necklace, Jani

irror. "He thinks he gave it to me. He was so out

d the live stream of Janine's interview on her laptop. She took a scree

le you can,"

nd stood up. It was tim

hballs and a pair of orthotic shoes with thick rubber soles. She went to the bathroom and pulled her hair back into a severe, tight bun tha

red. The confident, sensual woman from The Vault was gone

," Declan said, leaning against the doorframe. H

"That's the point. Eric Koch doesn't see pe

warned. "The motor

f to grab a stack of invoices. "I'm just the int

Aislinn. What

is a recluse. She works re

the studio changed instantly. It bec

them. His presence alone commanded the room. He was wearing a navy suit that cost more

mployee

second. She kept her head down, clutchin

cognition. Nothing. Just a flicke

ed forward, sweating. "W

. His voice was smooth, deep, and

he

ally care about. I bought the studio to get t

forehead. "About that.

he silence in the room

he sends her designs via encrypted server. We've actuall

o believe that? I just bought a company for eight figu

ct," Declan pleaded

," Eric said. "Tell her she shows up tomorro

like he was

ough, the studio would close, and her cover would be bl

voice croaked from t

at the grey lump of a woman

he said, rais

"Rose. She said if anyone tries to force her into the light, she'll bur

Nobody spoke to E

arrowed his eyes, studying her. "

"I was hired last month to manage the digi

nnoyed him, but also... intrigued him. Most people cowered. This

softly. "Or you're stupid

nted a finger at Aislinn without looking at her, "...this assistant is now her officia

. Directly to him? That w

u want the junior assistant t

" Eric said. He looked at Aislinn one last time

," she w

eak

" she sai

, a nuisance he couldn't quite place. Then he shrugged

his heel an

e photocopier, her legs turning to jelly. She had surviv