e proximity was overwhelming. She could see the flecks of go

ptly, he s

king. Hali let out a breath s

om the predator to the CEO. He opened a drawer and pulled out a thick docum

agreement," he s

document. It looked

s jumped out at her. A monthly allowance that rivaled her annual salary.

t him. "You can

investments," Ezra said,

the document back onto the desk. "I want my li

s that others o

with the weight of a stone. Hali fro

ood up again and walked to the w

particular interest

left t

erself. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm a

u've been tracking him. Public records. Library archi

her deepest secret. The shame of he

oriously difficult to reach. A junior assistant at a fashion house?

yes shut. "And you

ner puts you at his table. It puts you across from him at

g her the one thing she had wanted

the

again. "Why me?

n softened, just for a fraction o

e only one who fits

ut the intensity in hi

ying to her. She thought of her mother, dying without ever

time," s

"But while you think

pulled her phone

ification was

equest f

t," Ezra

petty, small thing in the grand scheme of a billion-d

pped A

ed. He glanced at it, and the

"Now go back to

ned at

r plans tonight. Y

th Irving," she s

went cold. "