omed into a knowing, slightly envious smile. She nodded tactfully, gently close
r head. She pushed hard against his chest with both hands, but it was l
lfriend?" she hissed in a low v
ng calm--even amusement--floating in his gray eyes. "Aren't you? Two
ad all the way down her neck. With one sentence, he stripped b
" she argued, but her voice came
. "So being drunk means you can just pat your
s her cheek. "Seraphina Scott. Twenty-four years old.
ed close to her ear, unhurried, and every word la
ession. Your stepmother Miranda's marriage to your father was invalid from the st
a resource Miranda and her daughter tried with all their might to take but could never seize. The trust fund and private jewelry collection your mother left behind are wor
ping you keep tabs on Julian, smooth over connections. In Chicago, there is also a company you anonymo
u knew he was the public heir of the Carlisle family. You approached him not out of some girlish infatuation, but because you wante
. He knew who she was. He had
uestion stuck in her throat,
e more about my... girlfriend." He paused on the last three words, as if there had originally been a more i
at she was merely using a stranger to vent a reckless escape. In the end, she had voluntari
gh gritted teeth. "Give me back the ring, a
y under the office lights. "The ring? Are you sure you w
ameless,"
is eyes instantly faded, replac
d stepped back, givin
ed sharply, wat
hogany desk, arms crossed, his gaze traveling over
ing, didn't you?" he said, all tr
er most private, most humiliating co
ne of your
ing smile tugged at the corner of his mo
firmly onto hers. The next words
He looked at her, his expression solemn, without a tra
e a heavy hammer. She froze
st
the strength and experience of someone in power. Even his own nephew sai
meeting those steady gray eyes, without a tra
sn't
s ser
sn't relief, not smugness. It was closer to guilt--a su
in his countless romantic exploits. But if what he said was true, then she
at night was instantly overtur
giving her much time to digest. He spoke again, his tone
with you about that night. I came to fi
ing trouble. I want to clean house and thoroughly secure control of the Carlisle Group. You want to take back t
rturn Julian's game. I borrow your identity and your plans to legitimately intervene
nder the light. "The ring stays with me. Consider it
ce, and softly added one line, li
nd leaning on my shoulder, I called your nam
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