ng windows of Damian's penthouse as I stood before t
zed the woman st
g into Alexander's shadow. In her place stood a woman
do thi
ng," Damian calle
portfolio and hurried
-
ors of glass and steel reflecting the morning sun. My
e elevator, Damia
arned. "They see you as a liability-Alexander Sterling's
cted as
his lips. "Don't give them a
I straightened my shoulders and
any conference table. Their expressions ran
. Blackwood. And this must be
cted calmly. "I've rec
course. Richard Vance,
s, Damian gestured for
"Elena will be joining our st
d Vice President of Operatio
fies Ms. Hartley for such a position? Her
m fell
pressing against me, b
on't pretend otherwise. But I spent five years married to Alexander Sterling. I know his strategies, his weaknes
a smile
y. We're dealing with billions of dollars and thousands of employees, Ms. H
but I kept my exp
ch companies he's quietly pursuing and which executives he's been meeting behind closed door
forward
ess something none of you do-insight into the
er mouth, but Dam
wledge of Sterling's operations is
wept acros
ou're taking your concerns to the CEO, not treating h
's jaw t
time, she had
By the end, my head was spinning with acquisition
haustion was some
id
en, and people had b
-
Damian caught up wi
led yours
urvi
"Victoria will keep testing you. She's been with the c
nd I think sh
yebrow. "Is that w
latter y
followed me in
something about Victoria'
-
n the penthouse, an untouch
one b
wn nu
reluctant
le
ice I hadn't h
le
od ran
xand
don't h
do you
warn
ut w
e's planning something that goes beyond destro
rged thr
no right t
a woman like you? A CEO of his standing? Elena, you're nothing but Alexander
ightened aro
spent years making me feel worthless, and now you're trying to p
r who's simply using
e, Alex
before he could
ds tre
he was
er manipulator. He couldn't stand the idea of me moving on,
red, tossing my ph
g lingered in the
-
cony in a loose red dress, sipp
hen I hear
y, his tie loosened, his s
't s
ok my
and two glasses. "Neither
pped
y chairs, the glittering c
nner," he observed, pouring the
's call, but I wasn't ready to invite more do
n't trust me,"
doesn't tr
ks I'm a
way you stood your ground wasn't the behavior of someone who had spen
ting the warmth s
ed. "Like background noise in Alexander
urned to
ust had the misfortune of lovi
ed over me, war
short time, making me feel more valued than
t reflected in his silver eyes and the vu
mia
trust me overnight. I just want you to rediscover the woman you've bur
ld my
to your heart again, I hope you will neve
eath
shrink, charged with an emoti
red," I
He smiled. "I'll be here, every step of t
s, allowing mys
, someone believed in me wi
phone buzzed
screen, and his
t is
ing tomorrow morning. Apparently,
urity
dn't ex
us faded beneath
with you,"
le
If something threatens this
d me befo
But promise
ha
r tomorrow, don't tr
s silver eyes
eve
rept down
oes tha
he brushed his fingers
. Tomorrow will
de, leaving me alon
-
, my phone b
unknow
ear from me, but you need to know
d as another me
Sterling warehouse. Come alone. Before
he screen, my
was Damian Blackwood really, and wh
f to believe I was
y eyes, I couldn't escape the terrifying possib
might finally di
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