SECOND LIFE: CEO's shadow

nd too loud. The clinking of spoons against ceramic mugs sounded like hammers hitting stone

alling over his forehead. Back then, I thought it was cute. Now, I just saw it as a mask. Thi

ed when he wasn't getting his way. "What do you mean you aren't signing? We've been talking about this

never wanted a family with me. He just wa

sand dollars from my father's trust into a business account Marcus controlled. In my first life, I h

proud of how steady my voice was, even though

y hand again, but I moved it to my lap before he could touch me. "I told you, I've done the research. The tech market is b

. "You shouldn't make promises w

is eyes went hard and dark, the same way they looked on the roof. It was a ti

ened his voice quickly, but the damage was done. "I'm sorry. I'm just

wyer this morning. There is a random audit on my father's accounts. The bank has flagged some of the larg

at I was okay or stressed about my inheritance. He

ible. We'll lose the building. The investors will

ld sense of power. For the first time, I was the one holding the k

just a small, greedy person who was losing his grip on a golden ticket. He didn't even try

to call the landlord and tell him

atever you l

walk away with my head held high. I didn't look back to see the look on his

lt like they were finally getting enough oxygen. I was back. I was r

as only half

already in my life. She was probably sitting in my living room right now, pretending to be my

ed the way she pushed me. I remembered the joy in

l, the screen was small and the button

eeting go? Are we rich ye

disgust. I didn't repl

move my money, hide my assets, and find someone who could help me take them both down. I couldn'

gh-society parties. A man who didn't play by the rules. A m

air T

kind of man who bought companies just to break them apart. He was c

ired face in a store window. I looked lik

," I whispered

he girl who stood her ground. And if I had to make a deal w