The Billionaire's Web of Desires

ing quietly through Daphne Baker's life

odney Th

ot publicly. B

e kept secret. The

itious, too sharp for the role she was given. She fell into Leonard Thompson's orbit

nt, a lifetime of hush money, and a trust fund for the child. The only rule? The child

he money and ran. Not for

New Haven, surrounded by law books, ethics deba

everything about the Thompson legacy before he was ten. He saw his father once-from a distance-at a ga

en Rodney m

r a seat at a tab

ething. Something

tudied law. ÈHe devoured it all. But he

eight of justice served selectively. The power games

st-consulting for ethics boards, helping whistleblowers from the

then

hne

nding like fire at the edge of a crowd. Her name echoed in

n't like th

game. She *broke* it wh

ly saw her, bruised pride in her eyes and st

. Not because she

he could

st, the family tie, the history he'd b

fall for her. He hadn't p

it neatly in his

t with her was

d to tel

im, he whispered the words out loud to

Baker didn't de

th could de

Spencer, to the Thompson name, to be

want to be a

tayed s

wait

ove could survive in th

e's first cat. He picked up on her moods before she even voiced them. He left notes on

. somethi

ilences-the questions he dodged too easily, the way

ce that night at the restaurant,

she was a survivor. If she'd learned anything from Sp

Belle & Baker-glass of water sweating beside her laptop, black hee

er. Prior employment vague. No social med

inten

ct-Amira Santiago, a former investigator who ow

the pleasantries. "I need you

You finally dating someone shady e

phne said. "Which is e

both guilty and grounded. The two emotions l

r clients was debuting a collection, and the space was packe

ly magnetic presence that turned heads without effort. He kissed

the scent of cedar and smoke. "

" he said. "But

calm, charming, but measured. She noticed the way he subtly avoided anyone who asked pers

chaotic storm of color, oil and ash

you see?"

ed his head

at him. "Wh

eyes. "Because it's not always clean. Some people

one who knows a thin

aze. "I know mor

ess. She just took a sip of her wine and noted it. Tucke

in her penthouse, her head on his chest, hi

your family?" she asked

silent for

ntually. "My father was... complica

e rest

of them," he sai

t-just slightly-on

er eyes. She di

of her didn'

might ruin whateve

ruths were har

ternoon, Am

"Not much to go on. But

ha

rs ago. It's sealed, but Merrill was listed as

ho

rd Tho

blood tur

son. Spencer'

nto boardroom walls and rea

you s

be coincidence, b

respond. She e

dow in her office, looking out over t

ney a T

A hidden cousin

bilities

ng: Daphne couldn'

tion. No birth certificates. No mentio

't confront hi

w... she

wa

s was becoming-with a wary

had already been bu

history write her e