a's

deo replayed in my head on a vicious loop-Benjamin, insid

dn't b

ed it since after watching the footage. Couldn't. If I watched th

usion and indecision. I was tired and sleepy. I didn't know

t mor

the morning air stinging my face. Horns. Shouting. Coffee cart

ch the next available cab. I barely remembered hailing the cab. Just the thick

r an address Har

n. And a Midtown skyscraper address. Hartman Global Holdings. I looked it up

he wan

ra was too tight, my blouse was too thin, and I detested my trembling hands. However

ened my mouth. I nodded. "He's e

iling windows that made the city look like a toy set. Cold steel and d

d by th

like it was stitched straight onto his body. His jawline could

u c

nodded, like that was

y m

elope. You watched th

you know what h

ust confidence in a bottle, poured straight into his bones. "M

e other side of his desk. My knees were shaking, and I wasn

Legally, publicly and for one year. Ap

! You need

I snapped. That earned the faint

" he said. "My board expects a clean image.

a rich debutante to p

ant one. I

't blink. "Because you're desperate. And de

ood up. "I'm not for sale." I murm

be. Your safety. That is what you

The words sliced the air cle

not sure what you

now he left that note. I know what he's d

ow

. "Let's just say.

do. And you're a leverage." So that

his desk, took out a folder

and this: Benjamin won't stop chasing you. And

the paper. A year

No obligation beyon

rotection, mo

ispered. He leaned forward. "But I'm your b

ast. My heels caught on a grate, and I stumbled with my hands on the ai

lt wrong. I checked over my shoulder fiv

n in the mirrored wall. My lipstick ha

. Hands in his pockets and head down. I felt it

locked. The hum of the elevator filled

ked up slightly, clutching my purse tighter, the

h

Just enough to ma

wasn't

spies maybe. The man stepped off on

rored. It wasn't until I tasted salt i

*

ome. I needed to tell her wha

hone. "Are you out of your mind? Y

had

n't-you

in. "Cam, he knows a lot of things about me. Abou

e sent the envelope.

fering protection."

N

m running out of time. Because every time I sleep, I

e I'm

," I said instead. "That's all." Camille was quiet f

e I'm not crazy if I say

Eva." I nodded lik

front door. Slept with my phone clutched to

g, I stared at th

ies. Except that everyt

d up th