Bound by billonaires hidden agenda

---

N

arper than I intende

for a beat-before it slid back into

ing my arms like a shield. "I

Bold choice. Risky, too, considering h

calm he was, how sure of hi

I snapped, grabbing my bag. "

turned to leave. "You'll change your

words stayed with me, gnawin

-

No

ed with a call from Mr. Brooks,

u need to c

ck envelope across the desk. I recognized the bank

th trembling hands.

d aloud, my voice ba

been negotiating on your behalf, but t

d, desperation clawing at my throa

ry's financial record makes it too risky for investors, a

" I said, hold

erly. "I know you don't want to hear this, but

tely, shaking my hea

our father would've

llery with his bare hands. It was his dream, his legacy-a

-

Brea

o home and sit with my thoughts. Instead, I rearranged paint

t I did, Damon's

a.m. The city outside was quiet for once,

, a faint shuffle st

, gripping my key

th

a decorative vase-and tiptoed toward the noise. My

as cracked open, and a

lled, my vo

re bolted past me. I barely caugh

e gone, disappearing through th

Papers were everywhere. Drawers had been yan

my father kept his private coll

, nondescript painting I'd ba

ty minutes, but their question

ue of the stolen ite

even on display. It was part of

it in

It... it wasn't

change, but I could feel t

ebook. "But you might want to consider increasing security. I

exactly what I

g with questions. Why would someone risk breaking in

ther, a sharp knock at th

the clock.

grabbing the vase again as I

ed it, my s

casually against the frame, his dark

I demanded, stepping into

break-in," he sai

asked, narro

nfuriating smirk.

ered. "Well, thanks for yo

e darkened gallery. "Because from where I'm stan

ms. "What do yo

," he sa

ight. Because you're j

a game, Sophia. Whoever broke in tonight wasn't random. T

you kn

ing with something I couldn't place. "

back of my neck. "You're n

't change the fact that you need protecti

e," I said, s

is voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

? What the hell are

g, he handed me a f

t's

said, his to

, and my he

g... and scrawled across the back, in red

the lights in the gallery flickered an

but he grabbed my ar

pered, his voice tigh