eway startled Emilia awake from her semi-slu
brushed past her usual pastel-colored dresses and chose a black silk su
idn't accept your gift last night." His voice held a familiar edge of impatience, as if her feelings were an inconvenience. Emilia didn't
per to her face, his ice-blue eyes filled with a flicker of di
said, her own voice unnervingly cal
ill needs me?" He crossed the room in three long strides, his large frame eclipsing her. He gripped her ch
ou and Fann
ack as if she were contaminated. "So you know," he said, not bothering to deny it. "
tter smile touching her li
ore it in half, then in quarters, letting the pieces flutter into the wastebasket. "I will not agree to
remained placid. "You will." She took a deep breath. "If you don't, I won't hesitate to tell The New York Times
fury. "Are you threatening me?" He stalked toward her, the air crackling. H
milia. You have more fight in you than I thought." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "It's me. Suspe
for a flicker of regret. "Now," he said softly, cruelly. "What leverage do you have left? Go ahead, tell the media. I d
t, Delano. A scandal might not sink you. But what about the encrypted records of the South-East project? Or the 'questionable' offshore accounts I've been
s pupils contracted. He recognized the files. They detailed deals he thought were flawless, untraceable. He
If the Lancaster Group goes down, I'm taking the Gates Corporation's entire boar
/1/123831/coverbig.jpg?v=6e6c56492faa93df49817dbb42b1515e&imageMogr2/format/webp)