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“He’ll see you now”

My head jerked up to the pretty receptionist as standing in front ofas she earing six-inch heels, and the floor was a polished marble That was unusual forsure I always knehen people were approaching, when they were getting close, so I could prepare myself to play whatever part was needed for the situation

I tried to return her s it onky, off Her eyes never di like her, she likely dealt with all sorts of bullshit on a daily basis A strange woe fro to pick her up

I reverently put the book down, stood, smoothed my skirt and followed her down the hallway Art peppered the walls Abstract, pricey, famous most likely, if I’d taken the tih I’d worked hard to scrub the trailer park froner shoes and clothing, names that mattered, which fork to use, social etiquette—art was one thing I shunned I found the people droning on about how much they paid for a particular ‘piece’ to be obnoxious and full of self-importance

Then again, that was ninety-nine percent of my clientele More than likely, this client would be no different Because thewas so last minute, I hadn’t had time to research him, which unnerved me Whenever I was involved with a case, with a client, Ithere was to learn about them Not just their case Their personal life Their childhood Whatabout her than usual paycheck,The partners called inative, but they were lawyers not novelists

It hy I hadn’t found this hly unusual Though I was great atsuch a risk sending only me

Unless it wasn’t their choice

So prickled at the back of my neck when the receptionist opened the door, and I heard a lowher She skirted past ht smile

I stopped the second I walked into the room The second the scent hit me Which was only about a second before I saw him

Him

My breath left et about this man, his hands on me, his mouth onto be the perfect fiancée to uilt, convinced that he could sed to my very foundation

But I’d been i my fiancé’s attention span

I how much notice he took of me

I had not i behind an oak desk

This was not a coincidence I knew that immediately Life did not work that way Someone had put this in motion Someone who knew the firm I worked at

He atching er

Savoring the way he’d caught h I did not know his na people off course Making sure they were never sure of the ground underneath them Control He didn’t just like it He needed it And he fed on fear That’s why he’d wanted to know everything about me He wanted my darkness, yes But he wanted ainst me There was no way for hts this past week dissecting every second of our tiether

I couldn’t take back my initial reaction, but I could control my future ones Whatever he wanted a at the restaurant I was sure he’d played so similar omen who came before htly upward, pushed my shoulders back, and walked slowly and confidently toward the chair sitting in front of his desk He watched me Did not stand Did not speak There were no papers in front of hilance toward the co to be busy, ierous His ti a stateto take it