pierced through the sheer drapes,

Every muscle in her body ached with a dull, bruised soreness that made last night

ling the charcoal silk sh

ered and dressed, looking immaculate in a tailored white shirt and dark trousers. He was calmly fa

thout looking up, his tone as fl

thes. Her pride refused to let her break down, but before she co

g. Fletcher had bribed the hotel front desk overnight and, under the

had blocked them outside the elevator lobby in a standoff that lasted all night. Finally, at dawn, they simply broke

he board review--did you really

r here, M

lashed across the room

motion, stepping in front of the bed and completely blocking Ivana fro

rmured, in a voice only the two of

of photographers freeze in their tracks. "Or I will ensure every outlet you work for is bankrupt by noon. My

owd parted. Fletcher strode into the room, followed closel

theatrical outrage. "I came to deliver the quarterly reports, and I

ry tears, but her eyes kept darting secretly toward the cameras. Her fingers clenched t

icrophone to catch. "Fletcher loved you! How could you sell yo

of them perform. The fog in her brain cleared

y trust, any moral scandal before the annual board meeting could freeze a trustee's voting rights. Fletcher was try

looked at Fletcher as if he we

c as your portfolio, Fletc

ng wildly toward the press. "The whole city is going

ing, started creeping around Adrian's sides,

the Chase family--the ancient Seattle dynasty she had kept hidden f

e foot of the bed, and wrapped it securely around herself. She swun

, her chin held high, Ivana

a few feet f

don't you dare--

ac

ap echoed through the ent

cut short. The room plunged into absolute, suffo

o his rapidly swelling cheek. Breanne gasped in g

e clarity. "Last night, at ten-thirty, I found you in room 802 with Breanne W

color. "That's... that's

and backed all of it up to the cloud." Ivana's gaze pinned him to the spot. "Today you illegally broke into this suite, secretly photographed me, and maliciousl

other, visibly unnerved by t

the back row recovered, thrust his

cher is over, that still doesn't explain why