ning, after an IV drip and a targeted dose of pain medication, Eleanor was back on her feet. She locked t

astian had ordered. As she walked back through the gleaming, marble-lin

eyes wide with furious, bloodshot jealousy. She had obviously ca

voice was a shrill blade, slicing t

ds at the turnstiles paused, radio st

did you use to get him to stay?" Amber

e around her. "Excuse me, Ms. Vanderbil

ed off the three-story glass ceiling. "Is sleeping y

nce. They slowed their pace, pretending to check their phones while h

aw remained locked. "If you have complaint

tinct-she could have deflected it, could have grabbed the wrist and twisted, could have ended this humiliation with one clean move. But she didn't. Let Se

oline on Amber's volatile pride. Amber's

arm snapping back, swinging in a wide, vicious

across the marble floor. Before her hand could reach Eleanor, he closed the distance in three silent, long strides. His hand

nt, rhythmic hum of the building's H

utting off. "Sebastian.

tirely on Eleanor-on the pale skin of her jaw and th

ber stumbled backward with a sharp yelp, crashing hard into a massive ceramic urn. The heavy vase tipped and shatter

collective breath.

rowd. The hushed whispers, the wide eyes-this public display of Sebastian's 'ownership' was a double-edged sword, but one she could wield. She noted the shocked expression of Mr. Davies from Legal, a known associate of Amber's father, and the subtle nod from Ms. Chen from Investments, whose firm ha

nter had caught near her jawline. His thumb pressed the soft cloth against her skin, wiping away the dark smudge in o

er-light, yet suffo

her ribs. All she could smell was him. All she c

rchief drop onto the dirty soil bes

mbling heap on the floor. His voice was quiet, b

is

rds settle in

dropping to a whisper of pur

erialized at his shoulder like a silent ghost. "Freeze all j

Vanderbilt," Dero

ed to chalk-white. A choked, p

d Eleanor's upper arm, his grip firm and inescapable, guidi

sealing them off from the shocked,