Hiding My Brilliance From The Obsessive Heir

ardin was thick with the smell of butter, expensi

justed her posture, aligning her body so the massive, sprawling floral arrangement of white

her cheap black pumps. Sh

. He clinked his heavy silver fork against his crystal wine glass. The shar

d red from too much Pinot Noir. He demanded they all raise thei

d how the exorbitant cost of this single dinner could have paid off another month of her late father's crushing medical debts. The thought made her stomach twist in a painful knot

eaned forward, her plunging ne

ncy is perfectly positioned for their new campaign," Amy boasted loudly. She

ok of pure exhaustion. Ellen subtly rolled her eyes, taki

nnections, the heavy mahogany double doors of the private room swun

was rigid, apologetic but visibly sweating. He clea

nager said, his voice tight. "We have an un

nnoyance. He parted his lips, drawing in a breath to loud

he shadows of the hallway and into the

ure in the r

it that cost more than Kinsley's annual salary. His broad sho

drained from her face. Her fingers clamped down on her wa

nstantly drained, replaced by a pale, frantic sycophancy. He reco

ned the room. His gaze swept past the eager, terrified faces

d directly onto Kinsley h

vering the visual connection. Her heart hammered violently against her ribs, the heavy thud

. He rushed toward the entrance, his forehead glistening with sweat. H

an absolute honor," Ed

he top button of his suit jacket with one hand. He stepped fur

esigner clutch. She applied a fresh coat, smacked her lips, and ad

ing to the room at large. His deep, gravelly voice sen

t at the head of the table, right next to his o

e narrowing on a sliver of dark hair visible through the gaps of the massive white orchids. He knew exactly where sh

rom Kinsley. He pulled out t

t gasp rippled thro

ossed her arms tightly over her chest, a defensive shield. Julian's expensive cedarwood a

igid posture. She leaned in close

sharply, her eyes sti

. Neat," he ordered. His eyes never left the top of Kinsle

ss the table. "Mr. Montgomery! I was just reading about y

answer. He kept his focus entirely on the quiet woman sitting acro

he mood. He started introducing his team, pointin

nsley... uh, Bankes," Edmon butchere

hoice. She was f

ulian's intense, searching stare acr

played on his lips. He looked at her with a new, calculating

ct name left his lips before he could think-a reflex, a remnant. He hadn't said her name aloud in three years, yet it still fit too easily in his mouth, like

essional indifference. She nodded curtly a

arms on the table. The subtle invasion of physi

r thumb flying across the screen. She typed a fake emergency text to her own number, des