y

simmering tomato sauce, a simple, grounding act in the midst of the chaos I was orchest

e screen displayed a Chicago area code, but it was an

ish towel and pressed t

el

have yo

lec. Ethan called me back, but I refused to talk to him

y voice calm. I gave the sa

ded. There was no preamble, no negotiation. "Breanne

pot, the rich red a stark contrast to

oup, Alec," I said, my tone flat and informati

on the other end of the line. T

you really have the cleaning staff throw it out just to get my at

it. He'd thrown it away like trash. The confirmation didn't bring pain, on

oice as cold as the grave. "I have severed all professio

"You're jealous. You think your little strategies are irreplaceable, but

ords washing over me. It was like listening to a stranger

expected tears, pleading. When none came, his

ix the proposal tonight. Get it done. And as a reward, you can be my d

trained sound of pure derision. I couldn't help it. The s

ps from his table, expe

My mother isn't well. I need to be available for her." I used the one excuse he c

u don't

or your problem anymore, Alec," I

nto a low, threatening growl, the Alpha command bleeding thro

ave once shattered my w

ish," I s

nded th

his contact number and presse

at followed wa

denly returning. I was draining the spaghe

uldn't be him.

rp suit stood in the hallway, holding a large, elegant white box fr

crack, the security

I hel

"Ms. Kay Silva? I'm Mason Sterling, from the Vertex

chain before unlatching it. Hamilton? H

vening," Mason explained, as if reading my mind. He held out the box. "He felt you sh

ns before I had even mentioned them to him. The level of his a

ou," I m

ful evening," Mason said with anothe

e box into my bedroom. I placed

, silver-white silk. The cut was minimalist, severe, but incredibly elegant. It wasn

small, thick card. I picked it up. The

ard to seein

H

my face, the first genuine smile in days. I placed the card

wouldn't just be

e making

-