reflected a stranger-a woman with i

mployees scrambled out of her way, coffee cups clutched to their che

n't slo

ors were closing. A han

, squeezed in, clutching

mumbled, eyes fixed on t

spond. She look

me see

draft for the foundation

folder

rembled as she

lipped

nual Jewelry Exhibition

r 'Special Gue

e Kens

and center. At an event Arden

nto the paper.

ator doo

stant, was waiti

he CEO's office this m

sist

was quiet. Tha

pering interns. Past the glass-walled offices where exec

open her

ed on her desk. Lauren

idn't t

area, voices.

t. I'm telling you, Sloane Kensington wil

didn't crack. But her

sed the

me the CEO's

n Lauren's s

is in a critical meetin

It didn't re

ed off th

lked to the v

ck-*bold red, the defiant k

ring back was

ade still in

ed open

p. "Arden, wher

alked p

r. The one that required a special key ca

her wallet. Wedding day privi

she'd

oors

e level. Hus

n unison. Their professional smi

ing, Mr. St

ast them. Didn

er. Arden shot her a single gl

ept w

llway. Two massiv

ulian's gatekeeper.

d. Instead, he planted himself

n, pl

ove

his. I'm be

inches fro

ped so low onl

onds. After that, I won't walk p

ask c

r eyes-something that

epped

bed the br