Lanaya

h of cameras was

brittle enough to shatter. The air was thick with the smell of cheap coffee and expensive perfume. D

stood b

and more like a predatory CEO. His arm was wrapped securely around her waist. His hand re

space between them, his grip tightene

and. You will smil

n a vicious, agonizing loop in her mind.

way to the front. "The rivalry between Thornhill and Redstone is le

, deep rumble that carried perfectly over the noise. "But when you find something

houted. "Critics are saying this eng

d her mouth to recite the PR-approved

-blue eyes locked onto hers. The expression on his face was terrifyin

. "But my father and Camden Roux realized what Lanaya and I have

hed a stray curl away from Lanaya's f

eras we

os. "You're wearing Crew's number. Does this engageme

went de

physical blow to her chest. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't

nd tighten sharply on

htly, "is exactly why we are all here. The merger ensures that Crew's l

e Maverick for

ion was a

focating. She could feel Alexander Hayden's furious gaze burning in

y rigid beside her. The arm ar

e raw, broken guilt he hid from the world was painfully visible in his e

. I will pull you in front of the ca

She looked back at the reporter, forcin

tragedy. Maverick was Crew's best frien

She told herself it was because she was a good

ept through the executives. Th

chest heaving slightly. The s

r announced, stepping quickly to the podiu

pulled her off the stage. His grip was entirely too tight as he dragged her d

VIP lounge. He shoved the door open, pulled

emanded, his voice a

. "That was me doing my job. That wa

u l

at is the entire poin

her spine hit the heavy oak door. The distance between them

forgive me,

had spent the morning performing over. She turned her face slightly to the side, not quite looking at him. When she finally

e said.

s heard a line before and knows exactly what it costs to say it. His jaw tightened once, then released. He looked at her the way

it wa

es from hers. The heavy scent of cedar

w register that made her shiver. "Because if you st

door on her way out. She just left, quietly