y's

gown felt like a

licate against my skin, the bodice hugging my figure perfectly-too perfectly, as i

osed to become Ja

d at the door,

s voice was hus

side, her face pale. She took one look at me an

irror, swallowing hard.

tepping closer. "We can leave-

go where, Amanda? Jason will

her eyes. "I'd rather spend my life r

ts, my nails digg

debt would be erased. My family

who crossed him. And once I belong

hands. "You deserv

at the door

ce came through, muffle

her head. "

y ears and then, with

d, tossed it onto the vanit

Amanda

asn't s

to the fire escape. The cold metal stung my skin as I gripped

rk, the pavement far enough that if I

eard Amanda's

-I l

egs, but I pushed forward, bar

rn dress following behind me like a g

es. The cold sting of the p

ey, my heart pounding. Jason'

aybe seconds bef

to di

lden lights caught m

ough the revolving doors and i

tal chandeliers, the murmur of hushed con

unge, my gaze dartin

en I s

an expensive whiskey, was

s Ran

ul. Practically royalty i

y only chance a

d, grabbing the s

I gasped.

sweeping over me. His expression didn't change-no sh

he asked, sip

throat raw. "You

me like a discarded relic. Then to my bare feet and finally,

musement. "You look l

on his sleeve. "Th

eyebrow. "I

doors bu

n's men strode inside. They scanned t

awed at

ht, then turned back to me, on

hard. "The

eat, considering. "And

reeping into my voice. "Becau

ing smile cu

eached fo

make them th

me forward, smoothly and effor

asp

ingers resting lightly against my hip. To an

my ear. "Stay still," he

n approach

a black suit, frowned as h

ily, his expressi

eyeing me. "We're l

skey, unbothered. "Well, I c

enough to make my skin prickle. I forced mys

es narrowed.

is voice was smooth as silk, but there

n stif

moment o

glances and turned away,

ky breath as th

irked. "S

scrambling off his lap.

. "That, darling,

ed hair, trying to steady my br

nd leaned forward. "Now the real question is

fr

eyes told me he a

going to be simple. Before I c

out, my hand

te

unknow

Mary. But y

od ran

ed to the screen, r

r little escape plan just g