aling her inside. The chaotic sounds of New York City vani

, his suit jacket unbuttoned. He didn't speak. He just watched h

ion in the darkened window, a pale, disheveled stranger. Her

ffic. The silence stretched, eac

. "Thank you, sir," she whispered, he

devoid of any warmth. "W

a punch to the gut. The

her head quickly. "No,

sed his face. "Oh? And where was your fiancé whi

e grasped for a name, any name. "He's..

ressure in the small space intensif

it her lip, her chin lifting in a flicker of defiance. "With all due respect, sir, I don't believe my personal life is relevant to my employment, w

lips, she wanted to die. It w

ared in Beck's eyes. Her refusa

his voice silky and sharp. "Interesting. And the box, Miss

s. "Why would a woman with a fi

pable trap. Every possible answer was

stammered, the word

ger, then he lost his patience. He leane

utor in his closing argument. "You refuse to name your supposed fiancé. And a woman in

ight of his logic crush h

no fiancé.

er, and tears welled in her eyes. She felt stripped bare, a fool exposed

e just bit her lip and turned her h

was his co

o such lengths to push him away? The rejection, so blatant and desperate, sparked

opped at a

humiliation-it was too much. In a single, fluid motion, Aubree lung

of pedestrians crossing th

ked, startled. "Shou

e disappear into the Manhattan crowd. A

manded, his voice a