armchair inside an exclusive Upper East Side VIP

ground. His childhood friend, Adrien Kelley, walk

gany bar. "Still thinking about your little secret project? Can't

eze boiling water. "Shut your mouth." But the

pensive floral perfume preceded Brandon Dalton. The socialite

n, but Brandon ignored the room. She wal

ther chair. Her hip pressed dangerously close

ongratulations on the European merger, Holmes," she p

ally creating distance between them. "Thanks,

knowing look. Adrien simply assumed Holmes was stressed about corporate matters, especially sin

oice to a conspiratorial whisper. "My apartment is being renovated.

zero. He looked at her as if she

g through the jazz music. "Go book

e, toxic hatred sparked in her eyes, but she quickly

twisted her ankle, letting out a soft gasp, and reached out

thal speed. He shift

hard, barely catching herself on the edge of the sofa to

rced a goodbye smile to the room and walked out. Her

don pulled out her phone. She typed a rapid, encrypted text

t from his head of security flashed on the scree

He shot up from the ch

re you going?" A

ng from him parted the crowd of billionaires l

ch, camera flashes erupted from the dark a

nition moment: Brandon Dalton standing on the curb, smiling coyly with a faint blush, jus

ndow at the taillights. "Looks like the Fowler fami

tantly. None of them knew Holmes was lo

t. Inside the pent

he sofa. He forced his breathing to slow,

g to wipe the dried te

ad away like a beaten animal. His fingertips

her hoodie. Her voice was raw and shredded. "If you already have

pulled together in genuine confusion. "Fia

d her eyes, building a massive, impenetrable wall

e. Realizing he couldn't break through

tal decanter on the bar, and poured a heavy measur