HIS CONTRACTED OBSESSION

it the newsfeed

LONGER PARIS'S

ANCÉE STUNS A

THE WOMAN WHO TA

ding her amidst the media frenzy. Images from the night before flickered across the screen-her profile framed in cri

as how swiftly the story had spread-not just in society columns,

ulation for years. Now, overnight, it was an open field of

er encrypted phone int

ge from

Laurent Tow

ture. No

her coffee aside. The game was movi

ld not be l

-

movements poised beneath the soft grey wool of her coat. The morning light stre

irt open at the throat. No tie. No jacket. The casual ele

up as sh

You're

way

to sit, a faint smil

tated luxury-fresh fruit, poached eggs, warm p

ok her seat. Damien poured coff

tacle last nigh

plann

orrected. "Not the reaction. Th

hed a brow.

them." He sipped his coffee. "That

carefully. "You

eyes glinted.

Camille reached for a slice of

ens next?"

cup down, fin

erviews. A presence beyond last night's spectacle."

m wh

among others. They will probe. They will seek to und

gaze. "Then we g

ickered again-ge

ou would

dossier awaited, bound in black. Damien re

Appearances. Background material. The

the contents. Dates. Locations. Tal

ent. R

ve," she

essa

ooked at him steadily. "And

ong moment, something

"But first, there are thi

n his tone caugh

ut w

the stakes of thi

wa

d slowly, fol

. "Not all of it clean. There are debts unpaid. Grudges that run deep. I

this, her mind al

I can shield

think you can stand bes

eyes l

equest. Not a

ickened, but her v

ll me ev

g-approval, perhaps-c

must play your role. Convincingly.

-

edia strategist from Laurent's inner circle. An initial round of approved press phot

ecision, her lawyer's mind abso

surface, other t

other.

that answers lay here-buried beneath the polished veneer of Laurent

she had once imagined

whether she sought justice, reve

-

s, casting long shad

ment to find another message

er. My resid

plana

only a moment

fir

-

vate penthouse on Avenue Montaigne, escorte

gh no less opulent. Dark woods, soft lighting, subtle art.

irt and tailored trousers, sleeves rolled back. The formal mas

u c

id I

ble-set for two, by the w

it

ied, her move

erstated wine-conversation circled between them, lig

cleared, Damien leaned

ng I must ask you

sk

"You entered it for your reasons. Powe

his gaze, p

mien continued. "A truth

beat of

ass down, fingers

resume

serve

charge

me," he said. "

ice was soft

slow, unreadab

window. The city glittered b

again, his v

Camille. The stakes are

pping to stan

tell

ose now, the air b

he pull was there-undeniable.

e, voice barely

ti

but deliberate. His fingers closed lig

st that you are in more

thought, watchi