barel

cas standing in the middle of her studio,

ng is co

ayed with her lo

d become a hard kno

autopilot. She showered. Dressed in a cream blouse and black trou

hands braced on the counter and stared

gna

still fe

ld know that a single night at a gala had shifted the entire direction of h

ying Lucas H

lieved she h

ded at her a

a sti

rmally entered the studio below first. She walked cautio

ing two paper cups and a brown

opened

ell me you are not hungry, your doctor's inform

the enti

half of yesterday staring at i

ped aside t

en table and handed her one of t

t have to c

That is w

naged a f

er closely. "D

lit

mean

ngs to thi

worry about. Ther

kitchen chairs. Nora unpacked two warm

utes, neither

the way, she had become more than an assistant. She was the person who knew when Amelia was pretending everything

ora asked, "D

N

oo

ooked up

disappearing from your bed without a note. I

should have made A

ad, i

take responsibilit

sharpened. "Financ

cal care and som

are things he

down at her un

this differently," she said

er. "Amelia, you are a

am

u a

exhaled

from that first night-the one who had asked about her father, listened whe

ot walked into her

Hart

ade her feel

rely on him,

uld not

r beside her. "I will go to the appointment. I will fig

table and covered Amel

gure it out

brought tears t

answer, her pho

er was u

d at it unti

peared almos

ice. Mr. Hart would like to meet with you today.

essage over Ame

said imm

oked at h

rporate office where he can intimidate y

k furniture is

ow what

ne rang

, it was

itated, th

el

rofessional. "Thank you for taking my call

es Mr. H

r to speak with

opportunity

was a

wever, Mr. Hart has asked that I arrange

glanced

shook her head

regarding?"

rt would prefer t

not an

"but it is the on

nsidered

nion of her clear, and whatever he wanted now could not

not only abou

about t

udio," Amelia said. "At noo

. I will le

ded th

er arms. "I w

med you

will ma

your st

a. Also, I have acces

ghed despi

econds, the

wn at the message

t ret

ved exactl

not enter the st

ld have made Amelia feel safer. Instead, it made him look more like the man who ran Hartwell Gr

eception desk, watching

rt," sh

. B

. H

room before Nora could decide whether t

me

her to the back

ther. Fabric samples and renovation plans covered one wall. A large drawing of the Old Marlo

ed at it as

lans for Ma

sketches," Amelia sai

ng before shifting back to her

a bli

not why y

N

ed it. She placed Amelia's cup in front of her, then s

nearby,"

nodded

t, Amelia rem

d not si

seemed to be ch

g yesterday

n caught Ame

to investigate

es

ng to contact

inic." His jaw tightened. "But I accept resp

studi

r accusing her. Not fully. But

so should not have imp

more than

held he

settled heavil

ieve it. She wanted him to tell her tha

s remain

ot realized she ca

want, Lucas

on hardened

nvoked a clause in th

What does that ha

y control of H

nothing to

does

in his voice made h

e and placed a thin blac

osition," he said. "The trust requires the managing heir to d

stared

grandfather thinks I a

he situation c

to your

es

esty wa

do you expect me

ened the

al pages. Amelia did not need to rea

ge Agr

eath c

oice rema

osing that

nt enough for Amelia to hear the rai

not be s

a

ting pregnant for your money one da

not about

, anger rising. "

r independence. Your medical expenses would be covered. You would ha

thought th

ave

not marry me, you c

id not mov

es

d at the con

t instead

ution for an u

ed her to stay. The tenderness in his voice. The way she had believ

ow easily he separat

marry you,

not look

agreemen

N

eli

aid

raise his voice. "You need to co

struck l

my child to

chi

ct me after treating me

went

re he could see the tea

you to

moment, he

eard the f

ou time," Luca

ot ask f

d. "But you

rd him

red the conference room,

did he

e door Lucas had ju

prop

nked. "P

ract ma

not a p

whispered.

ained on the conference

fused to

red emails. Revised the Halden plans, though she suspected the Haldens would not ret

eft to meet a supplier.

grew quiet

reached for

age arrangement, private terms, financial provisions, custo

no menti

night that had b

condi

losed th

nded at the

ora had forgo

it, she found the building m

n avoided

ut an envelope. "I was instruc

e was white

property company log

o race as she rea

OF EV

sion had expired. She had fourt

doorway, the letter

teen

l the time