is composure regained, a faint smear of li

r, a charming,

ad to sort out a small issue

nervously around the room,

fixed on him. The lie was so

as a storm, but her fa

ued, but Emily bar

won" for her, was supposed to be the centerp

re Victorian piece, intricately engraved, rumor

l for their "fa

ught of it m

Olivia holdin

r a modern art

t incident, made a show of bidding, his

bid, her eyes locked on Ethan, a

forth, the tension

as a power play, a public dis

spectator at her

presence and bidding, finally made a decisive,

smile on his face. "Another o

ention the

voice a distant echo even

lt hollow,

n, Ethan made excuses to

ospital chairman," he s

ia rise and follow him in the same

She knew where

e dreaded, yet felt

lve settled

ess the full extent of his

s, no more se

rom the table, murmuring some

he ballroom, her ste

n them take, towards the valet

han's parked town car,

re her was more brutal than

d against the car, his

urgent, their kiss

the shadows, the sounds of the

lay, devoid of any tenderness,

r's dashboard, its contents glint

into the backseat of the

led, the images bu

more... satisfying tonight. He said it was a 'stress reliever' after dealing with 'wed

ge, numb. The point of no