ected, a shrill scream f

the phone's speaker crackled. "Do you know what you've done? Y

the edges and moved it a few inches away f

nced si

r his stomach. He was staring at the phone with a predatory stillness, waiting for he

or Gwen to paus

ely flat. It held zero inflection. "Take a

The aggressive, high-powered manager was stunned i

d and precise. "They show a blurry back and a dark corner

r panic. "If we don't issue a statement in the next ten minutes, the spo

een countered instantly. "People will tear apart ever

we do? Jus

comment sections on all my social media accounts immediately.

ingers twitched. His

on surfaced in her mind. Seraphina. The director. Of course. She smirked. "Call the PR team. Tell them to dig into Seraphin

silent except for t

nched. The woman sitting next to him was executing a flawless, ruthles

et for a lon

ce tight but compliant. "Where are you ri

She looked directly in

, holding his gaze. "I'm with my

h-what?!" G

humb down on the red

en tossed the phone into her leather handbag. She leaned

e are you

rumble in the quiet car.

at him. His face was a perfect, emotionless m

a bright, genuine

nd realized being a vain, stupid girl wasn't

ight settled in his chest. He heard the exhaustion beneath her words, a ki

idn't el

back seat. The air blowing out was crisp and cool. Carlisle was wearing a wool s

her leather shoes press

the passenger seat. Her fingers brushed agains

e, his body tensing, ready to

t asking, without hesitating, she draped the soft cashmere over his

rked upward, a refl

nto her seat, her hands resting quietly in her lap

urled inward, hovering an inch above the fabric. He slowly lowered h

ided out of th

hedges. The car slowed down as it approached a massive set of wrought-iro

ed to attention and the g

crunching softly against the gravel. The sprawling, cl

smooth stop under

ediately. He walked around to the back and pull

rrived, si