COLD HEARTS HIDDEN FIRE

ays since Avery las

't come back. That men like hi

the front window, the familiar sound of heav

oor o

here

Wolfe

mple button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. He look

her. Just stood

oice steady. "You're star

ething," he

ss... anoth

ok his

ed...

ght her

billion-dollar compan

ndle she was holdin

ion for the Wolfe Foundation. Press. Investors. Partners

said. "You want me to desi

ng closer. "I want yo

ked. "Come

nod

a gu

... d

efore she could stop herse

ly person I've met in years who doe

know me," s

one at that party knows my life. Yo

ted. "And yo

ened. "She's

exactly w

ac

er a fake smile and bough

tend to be someone

I want you to be ex

trange honest

ry saw a crack in the

y. Barely th

But I'm not dressing like

you wear," he sai

black card o

ll for whate

taking yo

vor," he said.

the card... and

e said quietl

-

ay N

nothing shor

Velvet curtains. Wa

borrowed from a friend. It wasn't designer, bu

akeup, and just a hint of her newe

across the room, someth

y, every step contr

loo

. Don't compliment me. You

faintest laug

t first, but by the time they entered the ballr

s were

them belong

agne-colored gown, flanked by men in expensive

uld bring someone. She

er

l from t

candl

ession pleasant a

voice dripping with sugar. "

. "You sound

usually attend these together

olitely. "Trad

ew cold fo

expecting him to defend

guided Avery towa

ay?" he

. "She doesn

oo

-

That E

ped outsid

as too much. Too f

the balcony, watching the

rd soft heel

view, is

as S

er face calm

this world, are y

ied. "And I'm no

y whispered, her tone dropping. "Men li

ed slowly

ying to mak

yes were sharp. "Good. B

didn't

dn't n

n the air betwee

-

Days

and found a negative

ap products. Not

of her from the event, lab

t her sto

ss who posted it. The

ok as she clo

.. wa

dn't even

-

mi

fice, scrolling

the r

ew th

things like this before-p

aw cl

a long time, Damien

didn't

o couldn't

-

ac

anity, touching

hone

message f

't do

ed at th

eleted

ad to be learn

-

v

hat night, the scent of

sn't a

. Without help. She had built

't need

ok Damien gave her that night staye

refused t

t