ed over the marble sink, turning the gold faucet on full blas

ace, trying to wash away the phantom r

arbage, she thought, her stoma

ection. Her eyes were bloodshot, her makeup slightly smudged. She looked

cracked, but the ride-sharing app still w

ailable in

the storm brewing outside was kee

her pride, endure his temper, and beg him t

the main entertaining areas. She chose the outer arched corridor, hopin

ge stone terrace, she heard voices. High-pitched,

essing herself closer to t

oman laughed, the sound sharp and cruel.

another voice chimed in. "She's a nobody. A

ezed her eyes shut, preparing to w

it. My husband was in a meeting with him last week, and Constantine made some off-ha

he exists? I heard he's so ruthless, he doesn't even see people

ike a physical blow to

in boardrooms, reducing her to a pest, a parasite. His hatred wasn't just a

tion washed over her. Her hands shook

ctically ran down the opposite hallway, her vision blurred

ive marble Roman c

st into a solid wall

tumbled backward, her ankles twisting in her high hee

, heavy arm wrappe

g her flush against a hard chest. The familiar, intox

ing up to press against the

look

ne split second, his eyes weren't cold. They were wide, his pupils blown wide open, his arm

he loo

executives of the Warner empire. They were all staring at their notoriously germ

The brief flash of humanity vanished, repl

ll again. He took a large step back, puttin

d. His voice was loud, flat, and completely

ured in agreement, shooting Gis

e burning with shame. She looked down

gy. He adjusted his cuffs, his jaw ticki

out of the way. His broad sho

mbling sideways. She had to grab th

, his head dropping just enough for his lips to brush the shell of

llways like a ghost.

cutives trailing behind

. Her heart felt like it had been shredded into pieces. The sheer cruelty of

sting the metallic

erself, her fingernails digging into th

s Co

stant, a man with a perpetually bored e

ivate lounge," the assistant said coldly

othed down the front of her cheap dress. She h

" she said, he