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We’d worked hard to cover our tracks, but it was possible we’d made a mistake and he’d find some evidence we’d been in his safe And if he didn’t? I fully believed he’d fabricate it

It o to prison and never be allowed to work in her field again It o to prison, just like my father had

The roorew even smaller, and time slowed to a crawl Emery said she loved me, but—

Did she love h to turn down fifteen ?

It was so h I could match it, I couldn’t coht took hold in nore I’d been betrayed before, and I’d be a fool not to consider the possibility that her feelings foras she ain how skilled she was at playing a role

She looked atchin and her face full of tur me to tell her what to do

My mouth was bone dry, but I attempted to speak anyway “Don’t”

I saw it in her eyes the moment she made up her mind, and I failed to live up to the Hale family motto I was about to lose

She took in a shallow breath and set her gaze on her uncle “I accept”

Bile crawled up , victorious smile

“Good I’ll go fetch the watch and my checkbook in ait took every ounce of strength to stay in er see a need to negotiate Best case scenario for you if anything leaks is the mutual destruction of our companies, but let’s be honest That won’t happen There’ll be an investigation and nificant fine for Barlowe, but we’ll weather the storm I doubt the same is true for HBHC”

I hated that he was right

He tipped his chin down and commanded it like he owned me “Get me what I want, or I’ll leak the video, and then there will plenty of space for me—every board seat will be available”

Wayne had slid her check and her father’s watch across his desktop, told us to leave, and Emery hadn’t looked at me since she’d taken theers remained wrapped around the watch It was more precious than the fortune Wayne had scribbled out to her, and more important than me

On sory with the situation to see reason She’d sold me out