A Kiss In The Dark

had change

of Dever Holdings, phone clutched in my hand as

of Dever Holdings?" "Black Satin and Secrets: Who Is the Lady on Lucian Val

n in black satin, clinging to the edge of a man who commanded every room he walked into. No one had captured

d down, body tense. I didn't see anyone's gaze, but I could feel it. The wei

reign investor." "He doesn't just show up

as me. Yet. But masks

zzed sharpl

u

the nearest alcove, hands trembli

el

her voice threaded with concern. "H

. "Yes... y

dings heir. The pictures. He was at that masquerade gala last night w

n my throat. "Yes, everyone'

thing." Her voice turned casual, bu

hly. "It's all whispers

hese kinds of stories, they can pull people in and chew them up. Especia

aid, my voice

hard to let someone else's spo

the blank screen for a lon

rm she was wa

ffice and let myself

quared. Below us, the press had camped outside the building. Cam

said, still f

losing the door behind m

orry. Strategy. The kind of calculation that came wi

w the c

dy in my feed before I

er from his desk. I flipp

os. Reports.

ll from la

ple watching. He knew I'd show

d up. "

ucian said. "He doesn't know who y

at p

s?" I asked,

re seducing me. Manipulating me. That I'

have gone,"

. "You should have. What you shouldn

aze. My pul

do we do?

tone shifted, soothing, anchored. "I'l

t just about Dever Holdings anymore. They wa

grounding. "Then we keep this bet

of silenc

you can keep

I'll make sure the

e man standing before me could outmaneuver the media

ows had a way of sli

re was relaxed, but his fingers twitched sligh

d up bes

rters circled

et hummed with

to me. I didn't turn

feels like a dream I walked ou

n was

et it?" he a

But I don't know w

. "Then we take it

, that had

what this could become-

the quiet. I

e else coul

eras pointed up, not knowing what floor, w

tery wa

r

eady, his presence burning quietly be

dy living on

't whether the tr

our truth cou

survive in

roy it before it ever h