the chandelier felt

es. They were a storm of suppressed, dar

acket had caught fire. Her shoulder blades hit the cold gla

pathetic stutter sounded ridiculou

window. Slowly, deliberately, he raised his hands and smoothed the lapels of his suit where her fing

The toe of his polished leat

rawl. It scraped against her nerves like sandpaper. "That climbing into

ap. Heat rushed to Gisele's cheeks, burning away the

words out, her voice shaking with humiliatio

r, but he slammed his palm flat against the gl

s dropping to her lips for a fraction of a second before snapping back to her eyes. "B

rs of Gisele's eyes. She hated him. She hated the w

, the heavy brass handle of th

tal cl

n and saw her trapped between his brother's arms, her only so

ere wide, shining with unshed tears. It

sight of her looking so desperate to protect her relationship with his useles

or swu

step backward. He slipped his hands into his trouser pockets, his postu

ar. "The entire grid is a joke," he was complaining lou

from his older b

ace flushed red, and her lips slightly swollen. The air in the

eyes narrowing. "Wha

ut her throat was complete

as flat, bored, and completely devoi

ng at Gisele, "was wandering the private halls like

ipped Gisele of any dignity, but it perfe

He didn't look at Gisele with concern.

bing her by the wrist. His grip was tight, almost painful. "You don't just barge i

er boyfriend wasn't defending her. He was apologiz

ning's hand wrapped around Gisele's delicate wrist. A dark, ugly emotion flared in Co

ack to them and walking toward his mahogany desk. "I have a cris

osture. He nodded quickly, a subservient dog

muttered, yanking Gi

m, Gisele couldn't stop herself.

wood so hard his knuckles were stark white. His dark gray eyes were fixed dead on her. It wasn't a look of

ver ran down

slammed shut, cut

as Channing pulled her down t

s into the carpet to stop him. "I need to talk

styled hair. "Jesus, Gisele. Not now. The power outage ruined my night, Constantine is p

e stairs, leaving her standi