g in the air, a rude awakening fro
othed down the front of her dress, her fingers trembling slightly. She took two steps ba
at her for a second, his eyes still dark and stormy, before he spun his w
ked, his voice dr
ly strained. "Sir. I apologize for the interruption. Corneliu
anger in his posture instantly evapor
tator of the Fitzpatrick empire. He never left the fam
re. The Hamptons scandal. The sudden, cha
back to Aspen. His expressio
as will show you to the guest wi
e real power players were taking the board. She watched
ndary elevator. He led Aspen down a long, d
, hanging in pristine rows, were dozens of designer dresses, casual wear, and si
gs. Everything was
osal last night; he had been preparing for her arrival long before sh
into the wood-paneled study. The room smel
He was eighty years old, but his eyes were as sharp and predatory as a hawk's. He
tonight, Deron," Cornel
eelchair in the center of the room. "And I humiliated Van
n. "There are a hundred women in New York with impeccable pedigrees who would marry you for the
He didn't tap his finger. He didn
on said. His voice was quiet, but it
You are a Fitzpatrick. We do not mar
the image of her at a debutante ball years ago-defiant even then, a flash of wildness in her eyes that no one else se
's cold mask. As the patriarch, Cornelius only cared about results. Deron needed a wife to so
ver and placed a heavy, liver-s
t down before the board starts asking questions. You will marr
ood," De
his grip tightening painfully on Deron's should
one in the dark study. He pulled out
ears. Every overseas trip, every missing rec
the Hogans. But he knew she was keeping secrets. An
e master suite. Aspen had showered. She was standing by the window,
't touch her, but his presence en
, his voice flat. "We are ge
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