ockwoo

fourth floor smelled of bleach

r. She was fast asleep, breathing heavily, with a faint purple mark al

near the radiator, the armchair was covered in cracked synthetic leather, and the w

ordinary pack Betas. It was not fit for the

my dress shoes striking the linoleum. I stopped in

n my partner the premier suite on the top floor. I don't care about you

her glasses higher. She rema

he patron's identity is protected by international confidentiality agreements, and no amou

I scoffed. "Who the hell i

ind, along with the brief glimpse of Grace's t

r

e woman upstairs was Aria? What if the St

roval. She had no pedigree, no powerful allies, and no money beyond what came through

ly some distant aristocratic relative

elonged to a family powerful enough to take over an entire hospit

er my sympathy, present myself as a capable CEO, and secure a partnership wi

my wallet, and placed a thick stack of hundr

ber and a way up. I simply want to pay my respects and introduce myself. A rising t

cash before quickly sl

e catering team will take the morning meal up through service li

with you." I tapped the

lass doors, and ran a hand through my hair. Satisfie

trolley. When he swiped his keycard and pushed the cart

lion," I said into the blank screen. "I'll revie

nd lowered his gaze, apparent

limbed. 8... 1

chime, the d

cessed lighting, and expensive artwork lining the walls. At the

o be the r

alked toward them, ke

uards stepped forward a

guard on the left said.

ed out my gold-emb

d that an important lady is recovering in this suite. My partner is resting downstairs, and I've c

dn't even loo

requires n

nows the Lockwood name. We're the leading high-jewelry company in the eastern territory, preparin

ider. In my world, money and in

naware that I'd just walked into a situa