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ick soles of her black pumps crunched against t
her duffel bag, the nylon digging painfully into her collarbone. The mandatory
he grand reception desk, their voices loud and eager for the complimentary
on counter. She pulled out her corporate ID
dly and handed her a
n the left, the familiar blue crest of Harrison Properties. On the rig
olently. Acid burned t
rning white. She leaned in and quietly asked the clerk if the
d a manicured finger toward the closed double
She turned toward the hallway leading to the guest r
clamped down
t, steering Chloe physically toward the grand hall. Diane insisted loudly that Chl
e about a migraine. Diane ignored her, pushing the
ogne and stale champagne. The clinking of glasses and loud chatter bounced off the v
. She kept her head lowered and navigated toward the
ipped the cold, sweating glass, using the freez
er the crowded room. The loud c
he turned her head toward
ed. Julian Beaumont IV w
red charcoal suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly.
caught in her throat. He
light caught his attention. He noticed a familiar, slender silhouette reflected in the polished mirrored surface of the secondary bar. His breath hitched for a fraction of a second, an imperceptible break
et. His stare pinned her in place. His eyes
ocating eye contact, a petite wom
ling slipped her slender arm intimately through Julian's. She s
ooked down at Poppy. He gently patted her hand resting on
st. The visual confirmation of her replaceme
e bar. Poppy's eyes lit up. She excitedly pulled a reluctant
Her spine hit the hard wooden edge of the
introduced herself in a high, sweet voice as the new
er face. Her facial muscles ached with the effort. She of
an inch closer. His voice dropped to a low, t
m her," he warned, the
hatred burned away her panic. She met his gaze coldly. She
second. She walked fast, escaping through the side patio doors onto the outdoor
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