ett

nt white couture gown, now ruined by mud and the driving rain. Dragging a heavy s

mpletely soaked and abandoned, her back remained ramrod straight, her chin tilted in absolute defiance. It wasn't pity I felt. It was

ght was supposed to be her engagement party. My PR team had recently advised me to

oman who should have been the queen of her own engage

wn the wind

gaze so icy I could have been a

e. It had been a long time since anyone had

fusal. "I'll say it once more. Get in. Or would you prefer to make to

ing the odds. She was smart enou

e inside, and slid onto the leather seat, pressing

earth, and expensive perfume. Water dripped from her

e her footprint. It was a miserable situation, y

acket and tossed it onto

cion, but she took the fabric, rubbing

phone and focused on my team emails, giving her space while t

he rhythmic drumming of the rain and the f

rom the chill, but her tone remained perfectly level. "Mr.

don't do business at a loss. I p

ating the reality of being pen

bient light, her skin was pale as porcelain, her lips tinted blue

ifting my tone, "you can

y words as a cheap insult. "Mr. Stone, if you are looking

lly thought I was one of those corporate cr

esting than I anticipated." I leaned f

ce the contrast. She wanted to appear lethal, baring her fangs like a wolf, but beneath that fierce, defensive exterior, I

hot through my right hand, immediately fo

right wrist with my left hand, fi

ng turning ragged. This old injury always pi

to my trembling hand. A sudden, sharp light flashed in her g

previous tremor, replaced by a professional,

staring

d across the seat and, bypassing my hesi

essed her thumb precisely into several nerve points on the inside of my wrist.

agonizing spasm mi

, entirely focused on examining the muscles in my hand, her

ning and tingling sensation during flare-ups. Correct?" She lifted her head, meeti

had never disclosed this secret to

hell did