he back seat with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, dressed in the fitted black dress Kaelan had selected for h

sn't just

The contract, the secrecy, her stepf

uddenly felt

gned her life away with tre

er, but she knew better than to get caught now. Kaelan was always five steps ahead. If he even sus

eeded

eded l

r on the sidewalk, the man who handed her coffee and offered her

't afford

erprises building. All steel, glass, and

ra," he s

clicking on polished ma

s this your first public appearance with Mr. Vale?" "Ca

smiled-tight, controlled, exactly the way

de. The air changed immediately-qu

vate elevator, phone in

late,"

t give me

eed one. You

ed into the elevator and didn't speak. Not

the f

t his a

wly, voice dangerous

play

nreadable. "You wen

ft it u

nd what exactly did yo

Something called the Eldredge Re

"I warned you. This

at. "It's ab

d. Kaelan didn't mo

ou don't. That man-Jasper Eldredge-he destro

That... she h

onnection to their empire. With you by my side, I ca

eath c

m a we

n said quietly. "You're levera

h disgust. "You think

"But it makes

sive, sleek, towering over the city skyline-was wait

. Executives. Assistants

ounced, "this is Elora

lief across several faces, b

aightened

ayed h

d pol

k ha

g near the floor-to-ceiling window, she let her eyes wander-

essly charming, ruthlessly direct.

time... she coul

w tightened wh

lose to pain when someone

just playi

chasing

caught in

maybe... she could

-

ed to the penthouse. Elora walk

ed the door

d well

dully. "Like a go

mean it

should I

nner sent up. Rest. Tomo

to face him

smiling? Fine. But I

u're not in a positio

der it a ne

t her for a

do you

ing about Jasper. About your father. About why I'

ce stretched

ly, Kaelan

inner. M

lked

ng, wondering what secrets he would unravel-