/1/105410/coverbig.jpg?v=a5437111c15a40b1920987fddb1ddf34)
promised a day of misery. She kept her eyes closed, unwilling to let the morning light assault her retinas just yet. She shifted, expecti
t usually smelled of stale coffee and the vanilla candle she burned to mask the scent of the city. This
ling for her phone to check the time. Her hand did not find wood or
e slow rise and
d trapped in a cage. Her fingers registered the texture of ski
ped her
g. But Hali did not look at the floor-to-ceiling windows or the modern
ftened slightly, but there was no mistaking him. The dark hair, us
Gar
ldings. The man who could fire
of champagne she had consumed to numb the boredom. The elevator ride where the air had suddenly become too thi
topped breathing. This was a catastrophe. This
three times last night. He had not answered. That was
ave. Now. Bef
r limbs felt heavy, uncooperative. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, he
ner gown, was lying in a heap near the door. It was ruined. The zipper was torn, the fabric ripped at the
e was naked, stranded in th
of the room made her jump. T
her chin, scrambling backward until her back hit
water droplets clinging to his broad shoulders and tracking down the defined ridges of his abdomen. He moved with a stiff, controlled grace, the towel
ping over her clutching the sheet. He did not look embarrassed. He
voice was a low rumble, ro
red her throat, her voice trembling when she finally s
ment fluid yet careful, toward the massive walk-in closet. He dis
em on the fo
hese,"
x. Chanel. She looked back at him
er his bare chest. "Given the events of last night, a
inked.
The word hung in the
laugh. It was a hyster
rice, especially with a vital, confidential brand acquisition currently in the sensitive negotiation phase. A sudden ma
ght where he had touched her in ways that made her burn just th
ispered. "I am not marryi
t is a contract. A business arran
friend," Hali
en degrees. Ezra's eyes narrowed, a flicker
sive, as if referring to a minor clerical error. "H
r chin, trying to salvage so
lls last night," Ezra sta
d. "That doe
ed his back to her, walking toward the coffee machine in
g under his skin. He was dismissing her. H
ag and sprinted into the bathroom, lo
he mirror. Her hair was a disaster. Her lips were swollen. There were r
er on her face, scrubbing hard, trying to wash
Chanel silhouette but with a modern, edgy cut. It was from
on. It fi
the skirt. It fit remarkably well-standard sample size, perhap
want to know. She opened the box. Underw
fasten the buttons. She felt like a doll he had dressed up. She
ing on a velvet sofa, a cup of black coffee in hi
You'll n
to pretend this never happened. I am going to work, and I am going to be a junior
e door, her heels si
was quiet, but it commanded obedien
er the door handle. She didn't t
was empty. She practically ran to the elevator, pressing th
nd leaned against the mirrored wall, closing h
, the numbers counting
ng her hair as a shield. She walked fast, ignoring the doorman,
h, thinking she had m
o the curb, blocking her path. Th
ght hand, sat in the driver's seat. He looked at her wit
id. "Mr. Gardner instruc
no taxis. The subway was three blocks away. She was
as tr
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