Cruel Devotion

The Morn

idn't

re

she might disappear inside it, the sheets untouched, her ey

int, she c

ened them again

even more sterile, more unreal. There were no curtains, no priva

t up s

ay desk. Eggs, toast, fruit. Perfectly plated. N

ed it

the room an

Downstairs. Wear the

K

No "Welcome." Just an order signed with

d toward

side, every item of clothing was black, white, or

pair of jeans. No hood

and matching high-waisted slacks, too tailored

se was

si

e soft hum of electricity an

ox at the ki

in-but crisp and composed, his hands folded over

ook up when

e did

it

the stool ac

rning. No

. "Thanks for the clos

ooke

ll wear only wh

ked. "Se

of having my name atta

ms crossing. "So I'

lowly down her b

ow well you fol

stormed off, something. But the way he looked at he

hen," she said. "Yo

the table. The screen lit

Public Engage

e ten ite

entable at

nly when a

personal hi

ntradict hi

o da

ioned photos

s take h

duled events w

the illusion

er lie

ked up

said. "Why does that

idn't

se can lie to me," h

if

met hers-sharp,

won

swal

dinner with me tonight. Eight o'clock. Bl

ked away, his voice fl

t be

-

The Bl

een long after Knox's

owly. As if reading it twic

lie

lies? A fake relationship, a contract fiancée, a house full of glass and camera

he tablet aw

o get her bearings, but every room looked like the last-cold elegance, black a

-a middle-aged woman in a slate gray uniform. The woma

fr

st corre

mo

t nodded back an

-

the closet, staring at the ro

und th

t. It clung to her like a secret. She slipped it on, then paused at the vanity-slicking

e hadn't been an

to ask if that was

out into the hall

the guest wing do

wat

softly as she desc

already b

nge in expression, but the pause w

," he

an eyebrow.

to see t

l. But instead, she turned-slowly,

id no

jaw ti

oval or disapproval. Probably bo

ked, already o

unch of rich people I don't

t her hand. "You

blin

is jacket pocket

d that didn't sp

half a second befo

as c

av

er like it had b

-really looked-and for t

ngerous behi

hu

ses

-

The Dinn

nt as they drove

hands folded in her lap, eyes fixed on the blur of streetlights thro

l. Like the car, the driver, the city it

te rooftop restaurant in Tribeca-a valet

flashes hit

ut Knox was already beside her,

was firm.

't have to. The way he h

sharper eyes. Wealth clung to the air like perfume. Everyone here kne

ade he

whispers started. Not d

th

t's

oks so

nored a

few men in tailored suits along the way. Titans. CEOs. Faces she'd se

tions we

his hand. "Didn't realize you ha

t even gla

action," he said f

ut the

red wine. Dishes were

p slowly. But her eyes kept drifting to K

ed at her once

woman

s cut nearly to her hip. She leaned down b

purred, eyes flicking to Ivy.

blin

idn't

hand grazed

ver Knox's under the table. Just a ligh

ething

tur

d to where thei

w, steady-loc

affection

as h

ses

's laugh

lightly, "congrat

alked

leane

e to touch me,"

n't li

His voice dropped to a th

ned her

he table and slid

it

gh

aid softly, "don'

-

: The

he car felt diff

pulsed. Like something hot had been poured int

y blur past in streaks of gold and steel. H

go for the res

t made eati

n people

when peop

spoken since they got in, but she didn't need w

night," she said,

lways

like

dn't

ead. "Are you ma

low. "You di

nked. "

" he said. "Ther

uth we

just tr

Protect your role

ffs. Then looked at her - directly, ful

why I picked

m guessing it wasn't fo

dn't

thought you'd be manageable. Quiet

w?" she

aned

it - not just the chill he wore l

I might've ma

art kick

dropped t

bac

wanting to bre

ar sl

had a

her of t

inside," Iv

t blink. "

d for the

ce stop

ur hands on me," he said,

-