he combination to a hidden floor safe. She pulled out a thick manila enve

cross the bold black letters on

d into the master bathroom and turned on the shower. Scalding water beat

ged mirror, dark purple bruises stood

ze around the raw welts on her wrists and slipped i

vanity stool to ice her swollen ankle, the

bedroom door clicked. Jamison

al glass of scotch. His tie hung loose around his collar, and a mix

rmchair, he glanced at Everlee's p

ed you'd be waiting u

cubes as he strolled toward the vanity like he was doing

pped up, and Ayla is finally asleep,"

you ruined the start of her party and slapped my hand

tood up, looking at him as if he wer

ed my door at two in th

d it off as a jealous wife's sulking. Setting his glass down, he rea

nt of her. The box popped open, revealing a vintage

said, hooking a thumb into his belt l

at day it was. Look, Everlee, I run a multi-billion-dollar corporation, a

ck up the necklace with the air of a

ke peace with you after the way you embarrassed me tonig

er breakfast tomorrow morning, and

lee stepped back out of his reach, her stomach chur

. His smug smile wiped clean off

n't push your luck, Everlee. Th

y green stone in his hand, her

ction last Thursday. Final hammer pr

gray-blue eyes narrow

to tell your assistant the gold chain was too heavy for Ayla's d

, you brought your sister's unwanted leftovers

iving way to defensive anger. He slammed the emerald

's calls behind my back now?" J

rald, Everlee! What difference does it m

you always have to ruin every nice gesture I make by t

n, Everlee felt nothing at all. She didn't even bother tel

ison. Competing is

ng ache in her sprained ankle, loo

ash and get out of my

er suite, broken only by the qu

edulous laugh. Far from panicked, he looked purely amused, c

ge of the vanity and leaning over her arrogantly. "You're threaten

her pale face, brimm

s, your entire life has revolved around pleasing me. You gave up

tapping a finger agains

our parents are dead and buried. You have no family b

mily protecting you, and you won't even be abl

adjusted his cuffs, his to

wife uses the word divorce just to beg for her husband's attent

she argue. She simply looked a

about that,

is jaw hard. He snatched his suit jacket of

next few days until you get your head straight!" Jamison snarled over his shoulder. "Do

hut behind him with a deafening boom tha

cket had slipped halfway out of its velve

y gold chain. As she stared down at the gr

offee without him, his unwanted trash would make great s