No Longer Your Shadow, Mr. CEO

ock in the foyer c

low against the oppressiv

from a three-Michelin-star restaurant, sat untouched before her. The seared scallops were rubbery

quid fire that slid down her throat was the only thing she'd felt all ev

rprint scanner at the fron

oaked air with him. He looked tired, his usual i

draping it over a chair with a car

idn't look at the elaborate dinner, didn't look at her. His eye

l, exquisitely wrapped box on the tabl

m. She didn't offer a smile. She just watched hi

as used to her quiet compliance, her graceful acceptance o

on. "Tough day," he muttered, walking to the bar t

erate, almost surgical precision. Inside, nestled in layers of tissue paper, was a confect

her. A costume for a role she

small and stiff slipped from its folds, flutt

ola

ow, measured. Her back was to Caleb. She cou

ed the p

world we

as J

he bed in the Tribeca townhouse, she presumed. One hand was coyly placed on her hip, the other reaching out tow

y, feminine handwrit

you, m

a physical violation, an invasion. Jodie wasn't just in her husband's

s went i

with irritation as he walked back from th

her hand. He saw t

ce wen

lunged for it, his voice

e was

e sound of ripping cardboard was brutally loud in the quiet room. She threw the shredded pieces of

ed, her voice a low

s was replaced by something colder, more menacing. The

assic, pathetic refrain of every cheating h

ing her wrist. His grip w

him-his cologne, the whiskey on his breath, and something

om the photo. Jodie's perfume. He smelled of her. H

tion was clear. He was going to kiss her, to use his physical strength

tasting of whiskey,

g inside Ana

ng her pride, of pretending-it all combus

, not to receive his

ank into hi

t down

, metallic, and deeply

ck, his arms flying open as he recoiled. He

edge of the dining table. She gasped for air, her chest h

ck, pain, and a terrifying, possessive fury. He slowly l

ead across his face. It

s," he murmured, his voi

play rough, Anabel? After three years of you lying there lik

nd, to humiliate. And they did

e shaking but clear. "You come here, sti

ond. He had underestimated her. He thought s

the time

ed wine from the table. In one fluid, desperate motion, she

ttered with a

jagged neck, a makeshif

m, her hand tremblin

ce dropping to an icy whis

re, but his eyes were still burning with a dark, predato

e bottle down.

"Or I swear to God, I will call the poli

held out in front of her like a talisman. She retreated past the ruined

room door, her hand fumbli

ammed it shut. The click of the lock sliding int

he solid wood, the jagged gla

shaking tremor. She slid down the door, her legs giving

vo

, empty room. It wasn't a thr