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And out there stood a confused ood friend to her

Pulling away froo and talk to Chico I have to explain what is happening,’ she said, even though she wasn’t entirely sure herself ‘Wait here for me’

But he caught hold of her wrist, his fingers vice-like against the frantic ha of her pulse ‘Okay, speak to him if you must—but make it brief And just make sure you come back, Erin,’ he said, his voice cold ‘Because if you try to run away I will find you Be in no doubt about that’

She pulled away fro to explain why there wasn’t going to be a wedding, her heart twisting with distress as she saw his face crumple But by the time she returned to the featureless rooer and she was shaking with rage as she shut the door behind her ‘You had no right to do that!’ she flared

‘I had every right,’ he said ‘And you know it And what is ht me very hard, did you? If you don’t want a man near you, then you shouldn’t kiss hiht then and there’

‘You bastard’

‘Is that what I am, Erin?’

‘You know you are!’

‘Shouldn’t you think very carefully about applying that particular word as an insult?’

His loaded words precipitated so—it must have been shock—for why else would her teeth have started chattering so violently? She made one last attempt at rebellion He has no real hold over you, she told herself fiercely He’s not your guardian or your keeper, or your boss ‘I’ his eyes with a defiant stare ‘I want to go home’

He laughed very softly and the sound filled her with dread

‘Please don’t be delusional,’ he said ‘We both know you aren’t going anywhere—at least not until you and I have had a little talk So sit down’

Part of her wanted to object to the masterful way he sat her down on a nearby chair, but in truth she was grateful because her knees felt as if they ratitude was soon forgotten when she looked into the deterotten just how ruthless he could be How he moved people around as if they were pawns on his own personal chessboard As his secretary she’d been granted the rare gift of immunity to his whims, because once he had liked her and respected her

Once