SECOND LIFE: CEO's shadow

on in how to watch a man drown

ent from sweet and worried to angry and demanding, then back to sweet again. In my first life, I would have been crying by th

ning, I final

"I've been coming by your place, but the doorman won't let me up. What is going

ill at the desperation in his voice. "I told you, Marcus. I'm stressed. The

something shatter in the background on his end-probably a glass. "L

oftly. "The foun

ings that made me look young and easy to handle. Today, I put on a sharp, black

ehind some thick hedges. I wanted to see him before

th by the fountain, his face twisted into a scowl that made him look ten years

ne rang. He s

cult! I don't know what happened, she just snapped. Just tell the la

like that, Sienna! You're the one who said this would be easy. You

hearing him say it-hearing him call me a pushover to her-felt like a slap. My heart hurt

etallic bang echoing through the quiet park. He

ed out from behind

. His face smoothed out, his eyes went soft, and h

buried deep in my coat pockets. "I heard yo

ey're being pushy. You know how it is. But forget that-did y

of weakness. He didn't care that I looked pale. He didn't care th

ake longer than a month. They found some inconsist

s stepped back, his mouth hanging open. "What? That

ow. "Because the bank thinks it looks a lot like money laundering, Marcus

te the cold. "Clara, you have to tell them it was a mistake. If the

w, I think we need a break. I can't be seen with you while th

grip tight and painful. "You can't b

Marcus," I said, loo

me, but fear that he had pushed too far. "I'm sorry. I'm jus

ned and walked away, feeling

e city, to a small, private boutique that only opened f

s the Thor

shimmering emerald silk that clung to my body like a second skin. I did my makeup

irror, I saw the woman

alace of glass and steel, guarded by men in black suits with earpieces. I handed

e, Miss

nd old money. And there, standing in the center of the room, surrounded by

was so sharp it looked like it could cut. He wasn't talking. He was just l

p and his e

d. He just looked at me with an intensity that made my breath catch in

m a passing tray and took a sip. The