Bought by Midnight

k-in closet, tugging at the zipper of a blood-

g so bold, so magnetic-and i

ur assistant pic

d with a sm

plied her with a rare smile.

r. A compliment,

lated. No

m with a shocking f

's not in th

events are we att

high-society charity gala-one of the year's biggest events, priv

ves, bold lips, diamond earrings that glinted like dange

surface, her n

om the doorway, his gaze sweepi

s in a black tux, sharp and devastating. T

'm your latest inves

u a

"You could at least

ace between them. "Pretending isn'

between them thickened, hea

s phone

at, the mome

the screen, his

e?" she

," he said.

Astoria-lights dripping from chandeliers, champagne f

o much silk, smugness,

ed a piece of

ooked at her

. Even while charming investors or cutting off journa

intox

ed, each touch carefully placed for maximu

ear. The way his fingers linge

ance_but it felt

expected," he murmured a

ed. "You sou

ou're adapting to this

g here more th

corners of his mouth tw

unning, and dressed in icy silver. Her

, extending a hand. "I'm Celeste

ed, heartbea

er w

ard, his face unre

e said, eyes still fixed on Sophia. "You're def

ny," she said sweetly, "I didn't realize exes got in

ianceé"_i'm a chess piece

ered. "You have spir

to Sophia's waist.

purred before walking away, hip

-fiancée? That didn't come up in our

n't rel

phia asked w

r wife,

uietly. "Let's not f

landed l

r

n her chest. Not because he lied-b

was very

phia stormed into the living room, pulling

e warned me,

her, unbothered. "Ce

ly thinks

to rattle you.

easy to separate what's real from what's not. B

n. I have fe

in two strides, sudd

is it you f

were fire and ice-burning

this," she whispered. "Like I'm be

Good. The old you would'

hit him. Or ki

she ste

Celeste?" she asked. "She

"She betrayed me. That'

ens when I bre

her-and for the first time, something r

id. "Don't bec

heart pounding. "Th

e between

ither

tood on the balcony again, wrapped in a sil

spital, her sketchbook gathering du

ught of Cele

n's haun

more than it seemed

in the shadows

careful, she wouldn't

t lose h