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dy two percent growth, driven primarily by the new fragrance line." Isla Hayes's voice cut t
ight of a dozen pairs of eyes-none of them friendly. The polishe
t that earned her a seat at this table but not an ounce of respect. To
y boardroom doors were violently thrown open wit
r and heavy perfume, a stark contrast to the s
rtising campaign, was wearing an extraordinarily ostentatious fuchs
avenport, the chairman, said, signaling for s
e walked straight past the security guards. "What I have to say concerns the
ng against her ribs with painful, heavy thuds. She recognized Amber instantly-the woman from the tabloid ph
mphant smile spread across her perfectly glossed lips. She stepped closer, stopping a
d to the silent room. "And i
a stark contrast to her dark hair. In that terrible fraction of a second, her carefully maintained composure shattered completely, and a shar
eneath the table, her fingers digging into the soft leather of
ith false sweetness, c
out the title like an insult, "will you
ess in her veins crystallizing
d, her voice coming out colder than she'd intended. "Furthermore, Ms. Stone, I believe your cont
a moment, she was speechless. Then, she let out a harsh laugh, her voice turning ugly. "Cont
e source of her mother-in-law Caroline's constant taunts, a private sham
ose to her lips, the mai
it was Juli
ere, tall and imposing in his tailored suit, his pier
ished, replaced by a pitiful victim. Tears welled in her eyes, her lower li
ed, "she was so mean to me.
, yet unbowed. Isla held his eyes, a desperate, silent plea within
cold. He didn't say a si
hopeful second, Isla thought he would push her away. Instead, he placed that
the stunned board members.
furniture, as if she were completely invisible, and spoke to
nwell; you shouldn'
ted their eyes, their faces a mixture of pity, contempt, and morbid curiosity. The profound, public humiliation washed over I
Without turning around, he issued one last, co
any emotion. "You will drive her to the hosp
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