He checked Sera's vitals, removed the IV needle from the

silk dress back on, covering the ripped shoulder with a d

rivate VIP elevator bank in the clinic lobby. She stood i

nless steel do

box. He was dressed in casual dark jeans and

stiffened. She moved to the far opposite corner, maintai

didn't crowd her. He casually leaned his back agai

os Angeles?" Kian asked. His tone

y, staring straight ahead at the doors. She

a soft ding. Kian nodded slightly. He gestur

looking back. Kian stood in the elevator, his eyes narr

Los Angeles penthouse. It was a massive, sterile property paid

She turned the shower on scalding hot, scrubbing the remnants of

wrapping hersel

of the pentho

t, barged into the living room. She was wearing loud desi

-and-steel living room. "You missed three of my calls! Lars

d over to the glass coffee table and slam

new dating reality show. The networ

act contract. The show's producers had maliciously edited her footage, painting her as a ho

icked up the contract. She flipped d

and bottom of the thick paper stack

of ripping paper ech

ute shock. She stared at the shredded pie

"Your mother will cut off your funding if you don't

e. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet. Her aura shifted inst

id. Her voice was a low, dangerous whisper that cut straight th

wallowed hard, her mind racing frantically to process the threat. This wasn't the easily manipulated girl she knew. For a brief, desperate moment, she considered callin

ing at the leather bag in Meg's hand. "Sho

rying to regain some pathetic semblance of control as she opened the bag. "You

ld. "Called 'Global Challenge.' It's grueling. Underfunded. They only want you

der. She scanned the

pecific name halfway dow

e. It was a smile that promised absolute violenc

bal Challenge" contract with sharp, decisive strokes,

clipboard back

es gleaming with dark anticipation,

a daze, wondering if her client had s