Dougl

law firm in Manhattan. My wet heels left a trail

rench coat, my ruined shoes, and my pale face. She immediately st

e, you ca

d out. The moment he saw me, he waved the receptionis

air hit my wet clothes, and a violent shiver wrecked my body. My immune system was garbage. Donati

inet and handed it to me. He poured a cup of steam

pulled out a chair and sat do

stack of documents. He pushed them across the table. "Ms. Douglas, dum

't even look at the final dollar amount. I flipped to

ore through the thick paper, leaving a

laptop and turned the screen toward me. It showed an e

ed properties. I pointed to a tiny, jagged green dot in

one,"

land has no infrastructure. No running water, no elect

at is exactly what I want. A plac

e liquid funds and processing the deed

d it neatly on the back of the chair. "Until then,

ok a cab back to the Douglas Manor in

nd floor. The floor-to-ceiling windows were blazing with light. I co

ily that I was never allowed to be part

freezing hands on the brass handle

at, the smell of white roses, and the lou

overed every surface. The long dining table was

agne flute. His eyes were soft and full of absolute devotion as

lly fastening a massive diamond

ld a digital camera, filming

ith a slice of cake, carefully feeding it

. It hit the crystal wind chimes hanging in the hall

person in the

ite roses and landed on me. I stood there, d

crashed together. A brief flash of guilt crossed his e

nd. Then, she shrank back against Jameson's ch

wn onto the table. The porcela

ge. He stopped a foot away, looking down at

his because you're