Velvet chain

ecurity guards stood straighter when they saw her, but she didn't offer even a glance in their direction. She swept past them, her black trench coat billowing lik

of his eyes

y he'd looked. Steady. Silent. Not with admiration, not desire. B

e way he had turned, the subtle pause when their gazes collided,

le gaze made her feel e

ight navy, tailored within a millimeter of perfection. It cinched her waist like armor. Her black blouse was soft

lips tight with anticipation, Andrea was already lea

s reassignment?"

being asked. "It's done. Starting today, Clark Matthews

t the coffee for a long second, then stood and

know?"

the floor rotation was due to int

rse he

wly. "Tell me wha

lla he

ice sharpen

lyn. Doesn't own a car. Has a library car

Andrea a pr

iny, but u

niform beside a coffin draped in the American flag

al?" And

brother. Killed in active duty.

didn'

miss

and silence se

nd slipped it into the

w-that look in his eyes. Recognition. It wasn't of her, it was of something

, he had seen it

e him da

ouldn't s

just afte

um of wheels, the quiet shuffle of shoes on marble

ews was in

was cle

through the hall. He wore his uniform-plain blue with a tag that read CL

idn't want to be s

sed at the edge, arms crossed, watching him polish

t notice

had-and just

she sai

fro

rn

r with those

o you always clean like

cted smile tugg

in someone's

eath c

men were. Not flamboyant. Not flirta

heels clicking slowly. "You

tact. "You walk like yo

at him. L

n, she

tter sound that s

ike that," she said,

dn't

being watche

looking at

inside her

st turned, slow and deliberate,

again, she realized

anted

sharpness.

roix, CEO of the most ruthless corporation in Ne

use of what

f what he

-