staircase. The silence of the hallway pressed against he
ballroom. She couldn't face
a narrow side corridor, pushing op
tings. The air smelled of dust and old varnish. Gisele leaned her bac
r clutch. The screen lit up
by tomorrow, we have to mov
her hand hard against her mouth to stifle the sound. She wa
over the dial button, the
forward onto the hardwood floor. Her
knees, her heart le
. Constantine stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him with a soft, ominous click. He stood there for a second, one hand c
cedar and bergamot filled
shoulder blades hit the heavy, gilded frame of a
m with slow, predatory steps. He stopped ju
sper in the quiet room. "Tell me. What is your exact price? How mu
eath hitche
you are. I've watched you cling to him for two years. You tolerate his cheating, his temper, his absolute
st ruthless Wall Street vocabulary to dissect her life, reducing
a mixture of fear and pure rage. She lifted her chin, refusing to look away fr
m? My brother doesn't have the spine to stand up straight, let alo
it up there in your ivory tower, judging people who are act
eaned in closer, his tall frame c
ever marry you, Gisele. You are a placeholder. A toy he uses to piss off our father. T
e knew Channing didn't love her. She knew it was a transaction. But heari
it down until the metallic taste of blood flooded her mout
ed, her voice thic
her eyes to her mouth. He saw the tiny bead o
elf-inflicted wound. He fought it, his body rigid with the effort. But the sight of her pain, caused by his own cruel words, was a magnetic pull he couldn't resist. With a motion that was both swift and filled
pected touch of the rough silk against her raw lip
and down. "Don't touch me!" she hissed,
ow. The momentary lapse in his control vanished,
is fingers digging into her soft skin. He pulled her face u
s breath ghosting over her lips. "It's a dangero
feel the rapid, heavy thud of his heartbeat through his sui
rill ringtone of a phon
shot. He dropped his hand from her ja
ate phone. He looked at the screen, then looked at
ndkerchief he had just used on her from his breast pocket and began to wipe
ever experienced. The tears she had been fighting fi
voice instantly returning to the c
is assistant on the other end, he looked at Gisele,
av
clutch from the floor and bolted out of the room, the
down at the silk handkerchief in his hand, now stained with a tiny speck of her blood and the phantom
e threw the expensive s
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