...KATE...
...It was 6:15 p.m., and the lobby...
...of Price Industries...
...office tower...
...was emptying even as I crossed...
...the polished marble floor...
...toward the line of elevator...
...doors....
...The interview wasn...
...'t what...
...made me nervous, though a lot...
...was riding on it going well....
...No. It was the elevator ride....
...My claustrophobia was...
...unpredictable and ranged from...
...mild to severe....
...Hitting the "up" button to callthe nearest elevator, a cold...
...sweat broke out on my back...
...and forehead. My heart began...
...to race as I dabbed my makeup,...
...afraid it would smear....
...Don't sweat. Don't panic....
...Shit....
...With a friendly ding, the...
...elevator doors opened,...
...revealing a completely ordinary...
...interior...
...The enclosed space was what I...
...couldn't handle....
...It felt like walking into my own tomb ....
..."Kate, get your shit together," I...
...said and forced myself to step...
...inside....
...The doors tried to shut, and I...
...cried out, jumping back into the...
...lobby....
...I could breathe easy again once...
...I was out of there, but what I...
...needed was on the top floor....
...That's where Taylor Price's...
...office was. He was Price...
...Industries' CEO. A billionaire....
...A titan of industry. A recluse....
...This was the second effort I'd...
...made to get the interview; his...
...secretary had just notified me...
...that he'd accepted our request...
...for another....
...The first time, he'd canceled on...
...me at the last second....
...Arthur, my editor at The Daily...
...House, was not happy that that...
...opportunity had slipped away....
...It wasn...
...it my fault, but results...
...were the only thing Arthur...
...wanted....
...Well, if I didn't get in this...
...elevator, the result would be...
...missing the interview and...
...losing my job. And then...
...basically my life would fall...
...apart....
...My Nana was the only family I...
...had in all of Philadelphia--in...
...all of Pennsylvania, for that...
...matter. It was just the two of usever since my parents had died...
...when I was twelve....
...And now. Nana's life was...
...overrun with doctor's...
...appointments, prescriptions,...
...and treatments. She suffered...
...from severe arthritis and...
...osteoporosis, and the bills were...
...always piling higher....
...I needed this interview, and to...
...get it, I needed to get in the...
...elevator....
...And to do that, I needed help....
...I wiped a drop of sweat off my...
...brow and peeled my eyes open....
...The elevator dinged and the...
...doors were open....
..."Ah!" As fast as I could, I...
...jumped out....
...The huge windows beside me...
...looked down on an epic top...
...floor view....
...Immediately, my heart began to...
...return to normal. That didn't...
...help with the sweat or what...
...must have been a makeup...
...disaster on my face, but I'd made it....
...A huge smile broke out across...
...my face. Rick was the best. I...
...owed him big time for this....
...I pulled out my compact mirror...
...and saw my garish reflection; I...
...gasped....
...Damn....
...I found a ladies'...
...room and...
...washed off the Rorschach test...
...that had been my makeup....
...I checked myself out in the...
...mirror....
...The girl with the amber eyes,...
...dimples, and a shock of red hair...
...that seemed to always catch...
...people's attention....
...I gathered myself as I walked...
...out to the reception area....
...I found a blonde, petite, doll-...
...faced girl in her early twenties...
...sitting behind a desk and...
...cleared my throat....
..."I'm Kate Dawson from The...
...Daily House. I have an...
...appointment with Mr. Price...
..."Oh, of course,...
...» the...
...receptionist said, frowningslightly. Evidently I was not...
...what she had expected. "Please...
...come this way....
...- 99...
...She led me through a large...
...minimalist hallway that reeked...
...of power. At the end was a large...
...mahogany door....
..."Please have a seat, Ms....
...Dawson. I'll inform Mr. Price...
...that you are here."...
...After Taylor Price had...
...rescheduled our first interview,...
...Arthur had not been pleased....
...He had even threatened to fire...
...me if another newspaper got the...
...exclusive before we did...
...Nobody had ever had thechance to interview Taylor...
...Price face-to-face; it was as if...
...the man didn't exist....
...It was either that or he simply...
...didn't want to make his life...
...public property....
...So this was a once-in-a-lifetime...
...opportunity. One that I could...
...not afford to mess up....
...Stop it, I ordered myself. Eves...
...clear. Head in the game. You...
...got this....
...I watched as the secretary...
...knocked on the mahogany door...
...and entered the room. My...
...palms suddenly felt sweaty....
...I caught a glimpse of Mr....
...Price's shoes before the door...
...had closed. They were pitch...
...black and almost looked like...
...they were…sparkling....
..."Of course, sir,...
..." I heard right...
...before someone emerged from...
...his office....
...I stood up, a smile spreading...
...across my face....
..."Mr. Price, I'm...
...oh"...
...But it wasn...
...it Taylor Price....
...Another woman emerged from...
...his office. I swallowed down...
...the rest of my words....
...Feeling inexplicably self-...
...conscious, I tugged lightly atmy black, high-waisted skirt....
...The woman was beautiful. Too...
...beautiful to be working here....
..."Ms. Dawson, I presume?"...
...«Yes,...
...» I nodded....
..."But I was...
...expecting Mr. Price?"...
..."Yes, I'm Kristen, Mr. Price's...
...PA. I'm sorry, Ms. Dawson, but...
...Mr. Price will have to...
...reschedule."...
..."What?!" I blustered....
...disbelieving....
...«But I made it up...
...here-...
...-I mean, why?"...
..."Unfortunately, he has another...
...meeting scheduled.”...
...My hands coiled into fists. My...
...nostrils flared....
..."I'm very sorry, Ms. Dawson-...
...Kate-...
...-but I'm afraid there'...
...nothing more I can do...
...except...
...for suggesting a different day...
...«You don...
..." understand....
...3 T...
...fumed. "This is my career he's...
...playing around with. If I go...
...back with the same story, my...
...boss will fire me."...
..."Please, Kate,...
...» Kristen shook...
...her head. "Mr. Price does not...
...take kindly to office scenes....
..."I am begging. Two questions...
...one! Anything, please."...
..."Please take the rescheduled...
...appointment I dan't want tohave to call security."...
...I threw on a sarcastic smile and...
...hooked my bag over my arm....
..."I'll leave, but please pass Mr....
...Price this message for me. Do...
...you have a pen? Please tell him,...
...from me: **** yourself you....
...fucking ****!"...
...I turned and stormed out,...
...throwing open the door to the...
...staircase, forgetting I'd taken...
...the elevator, forgetting I'd have...
...to hike down thirty-seven...
...floors, forgetting everything....
...All I could see was red....
...All 1 could see was red....
...I'd just told the most powerful...
...man in the world to ****...
...himself....
...Arthur was going to fire me....
...I'm done for....
...TAYLOR...
..."She said WHAT?!"...
...I sat behind my big antique...
...desk, brows knitted together...
...into a thin line, while a flurry of...
...activity and conference calls...
...and emails and texts cut...
...through the air of my crowded...
...office....
...Kristen stood before my desk...
...with the trace...
...m amusedsmile on her lips....
..."A. Fucking. ****. Her words,...
...Taylor. Not mine....
...No one, apart from maybe my...
...father, had spoken to me like...
...that. At least not to my face....
...My tolerance was limited, and...
...my name far too reputable to...
...allow anyone to tarnish it....
...It wasn...
...It my fault that business...
...had gotten in the way....
...It's not every day the...
...opportunity to take over...
...Jameson Enterprises occurs. I...
...had just managed to snatch it...
...from under Grayson's nose.A ruthless act?...
...Maybe....
...There would have been hell to...
...pay, but everybody who ever...
...dared to come up against me...
...knew better; no matter the...
...circumstances, Taylor Price...
...always won....
...A lesson I intended to teach Ms....
...Dawson....
...Kristen said,...
..."Leave that poor...
...girl alone."...
...You know how I feel about...
...journalists,...
...»I said. "And if...
...she's brazen enough to call...
...99...
...me....
..."A ****"...
..."Yes. That. Where does it end?'...
...I was an incredibly busy man,...
...and my time was valued...
...somewhere around $90,000 an...
...hour. Who did she think she...
...Was?...
...I should have just left it there....
...But that wasn't my way....
...I'd pay the price to teach her a...
...lesson....
...A wave of dread surged through...
...me....
...I have devoted my life to my...
...job...
...at the expense of...
...everything else....
...My only friend and family was...
...Nana, and she depended on my...
...job even more than I did....
...Now, thanks to a big rich boy...
...with a bigger ego, everything...
...I'd worked so hard for was at...
...risk....
...I'm going to get fired....
...TAYLOR...
...I had just closed one of the...
...most important deals of my life,...
...managed to flip off my enemy...
...Grayson in the process, and...
...arranged for an incredible...
...celebration, all in one day....
...It was huge. And yet....
...Everly Grey....
...The only woman I'd ever...
...admitted to having feelings for....
...And who had subsequently...
...destroyed my faith in...
...relationships....
...And now here she was…...
...engaged to my business partner...
...Tom....
...What is wrong with her? What...
...is she doing?...
...Tom was one of my best...
...friends. And Everly had to...
...know that...
...She must have kept our...
...relationship secret from Tom....
...Which meant I would have to...
...keep it secret from Tom....
...What the **** is she doing?!...
...It took all of my willpower not...
...to trash my entire penthouse....
...No, my bedroom would suffice....
...KATE...
...I put on a brave face, walking...
...into The Daily House office....
...Any second now, my entire...
...world was going to collapse in...
...on itself....
...I glanced around the room,...
...desperately trying to find Rick....
...I needed to know how bad it...
...was before I met with Arthur,...
...the editor-in-chief....
...The office seemed more chaotic...
...than usual today. Phones were...
...ringing off the hooks, people...
...were running about like...
...chickens with their heads cut off....
...On my way up, I overheard...
...some coworkers whispering...
...about a hostile takeover that...
...had just occurred over at...
...Jameson Enterprises....
...Maybe it was related....
...A small sigh escaped my lips as...
...I sat behind my desk. My hands...
...ran out over the smooth...
...surface....
...This could be the last time that...
...Lever sat here....
...I switched on my computer and...
...smiled when my eyes caught...
...sight of my badge lying next to...
...my keyboard...
...Kate Dawson, Daily House...
...Reporter....
...I was going to miss this place....
..."Ah, there you are."...
...That British accent could only...
...belong to one person: Rick....
..."Best get moving, Kate," Rick...
...said, standing in front of my...
...desk....
..."Arthur is in his office...
...waiting for you....
...How bad is it?" I asked,...
...chewing my bottom lip....
...Rick frowned....
...What are you...
...talking about?"...
...Now it was my turn to frown....
..."Wait. What are you talking...
...about?'...
..."Do you live under a rock?...
...Price Industries has just taken...
...over Jameson Enterprises. It's...
...all over the bloody news....
...There's a gathering tonight, and...
...Mr. Price has invited a few...
...reporters to cover the whole...
...event. Come on, we need to go...
...see Arthur."...
...Did this mean…they didn't...
...know? There was no time to...
...digest because, the next thing I...
...knew, Rick had dragged me...
...into Arthur...
..."'s office....
..."You're a hard woman to get a...
...hold of, Dawson,...
...» Arthur said...
...disapprovingly....
...If you only knew why, I...
...thought, taking a seat in front of...
...his desk....
..."Sorry, Arthur. It's been a busy...
...morning...
..."I can only imagine. How did...
...the interview go?" Arthur...
...asked, leaning back against his...
...chair....
...I swallowed nervously. Here...
...comes the part where I tell him...
...what happened, followed by the...
...part where he has security...
...escort me out....
..."It was, uh...
...» I began....
..."She nailed it...
...» Rick quickly...
...interjected, causing me to turn...
...and frown at him ,...
...What was he talking about?...
...He doesn't even know what had...
...happened, I thought....
...But he placed a hand over mine...
...and gave it a little squeeze. As...
...if to say: I got you....
..."We were just going over it; she...
...got some great pieces....
..."Good. But that can wait until...
...the next print. Rick, did you fill...
...her in?"...
..."No. I thought it would sound...
...better coming from you."...
...«Okay,...
...» I said, more confusedby the second....
..."Can somebody...
...tell me what's going on here?"...
...«Price Industries is holding a...
...press conference as well as a...
...small function tonight. Only a...
...few reporters have been invited...
...to follow the whole event, and....
...interestingly, Mr. Price has...
...personally asked that you be...
...among the few."...
..."What?" I burst out....
...Yes, my dear. You must have...
...made quite the impression at...
...the interview. If you keep it up,...
...we might soon be talking about...
...a promotion, Dawson...
...The rest of the conversation...
...was a blur. I didn't hear a word...
...of it. All I could keep thinking...
...was:...
...Personally asked?...
...Promotion?...
...What the hell is going on?!...
...***...
...I sat behind my desk, staring at...
...an empty screen. Rick had...
...quietly informed me that he...
...knew I had blown it....
...He didn't know the details-...
...and didn't want to know them,...
...for that matter. He could just...
...read it on my face. And he...
...knew this was my chance to redeem myself....
...And the colleague-of-the-year...
...award goes to.....
...Yet another reason Nana was...
...pushing me to marry Rick. If...
...only he wasn'...
...it already married!...
...A few minutes ago, I thought...
...for sure that I was going to be...
...fired, and now this? From all...
...the stories I had read over the...
...years about Taylor Price, this...
...didn't fit his personality....
...If he was as ruthless as they...
...said he was, why was he giving...
...me a second chance?...
...I either had a guardian angel...
...looking out for me. or this was...
...a trap....
...Tonight, one way or another, I...
...was going to find out....
...TAYLOR...
...I vented my frustration about...
...Tom's upcoming wedding by...
...smashing my bedroom to...
...smithereens. A team of janitors...
...worked to clean up my mess as...
...I scrolled through emails on my...
...tablet....
...**** this, I thought and tossed...
...the tablet away. I bowed my...
...head in my hands....
...Everly....
...After all the years, she still had...
...a way of getting to me....
...The bitch. It wasn't enough that...
...she'd ended our time together...
...the way she did....
...Now she was back-and...
...engaged to my business...
...partner?...
...Is she trying to **** with me?...
...If she was, it was working....
...No matter. Despite this, I would...
...make the most of this evening....
...Pretend that I didn't know her....
...Anyway, I had plenty of things...
...to distract myself with....
...I had Kristen....
...I had the press conference....
...And, of course, I had this pesky...
...reporter who'd dared to call me...
...a...
..."fucking ****....
...I looked forward to what lay in...
...store for her....
...Kristen was right. There are...
...more ways than one to teach...
...someone a lesson....
...Of course, Kristen wanted me...
...to be kind. To actually give this...
...girl the interview of a lifetime....
...Allow for some verbal...
...shellacking of her...
...unprofessional ways, but...
...otherwise, do right by Ms.unprofessional ways, but...
...otherwise, do right by Ms....
...Dawson....
...No....
...After this sickening news from...
...my business partner....
...After being reminded of Everly....
...After having what was...
...supposed to be one of the best...
...days of my life ruined by yet...
...another woman....
...I had only one kind of lesson in...
...mind for Ms. Dawson....
...Oh, did I look forward to it...
...now....
...KATE...
...I wasn’t " used to wearing...
...dresses to press conferences. As...
...I slipped on the classiest piece I...
...owned...
...-an intricate lace midi...
...dress-...
...-I heard Nana calling...
...from the other room....
..."Hurry up and let me see you...
...already!"...
...I came out and did a twirl for...
...Nana, who was lying in bed but...
...clapped her hands together with...
...glee....
..."Look at you,...
..." she said....
...«SO...
...beautiful.»...
...I sat down beside Nana on the...
...bed, looking at her closely....
...Even when she was sick, the...
...woman continued to be a spark...
...ofjoy....
...Mrs. Kirby, the home nurse,...
...had agreed to stay a few hours...
...more, but due to some...
...emergency, she'd had to cancel....
...Normally, I would have put...
...aside my plans. But tonight my...
...job literally depended on me...
...being there....
...As if reading my mind, she...
...patted my hand with hers....
..."Off...
...you go," she insisted. "There's...
...nothing to worry about."...
...I took my grandmother's hand...
...and gave it a light squeeze for...
...reassurance....
..."Are you sure, Nana?" I asked...
...hesitantly....
..."Yes, Kate. Now go, and while...
...you're at it, please try and find...
...yourself a handsome prince...
...who...
...'Il sweep you off your...
...feet."...
...Well....
...» I said, getting up...
...from the bed and kissing...
...Nana's forehead...
...I guess I'd...
...better leave then. Here comes...
...expensive champagne and fish...
...eggs."...
...I couldn't help but roll my eyes....
..."It's called...
...'caviar....
...dear. Live a...
...little."...
...And with that, Nana winked...
...and shooed me out....
...I had to admit-...
...-maybe T...
...wanted to stay with Nana just...
...so I wouldn't have to actually...
...confront Taylor Price....
...After what I had called him, I...
...dreaded the idea of actually...
...meeting the man. There was a...
...distinct possibility that I was...
...about to be chewed up and spat...
...out...
...But that would only prove him...
...right. That Taylor Price was...
...very much a...
..."fucking ****."...
...And. hey if he said somethingso I wouldn't have to actually...
...confront Taylor Price....
...After what I had called him. I...
...dreaded the idea of actually...
...meeting the man. There was a...
...distinct possibility that I was...
...about to be chewed up and spat...
...out...
...But that would only prove him...
...right. That Taylor Price was...
...very much a...
..."fucking ****."...
...And, hey, if he said something...
...that could be ammunition for...
...my article....
...So, hell. What do I have to...
...lose?...
...KATE...
...The crystal chandelier sparkled...
...over the crowded banquet room...
...of the Hauts-de-Seine Hotel....
...The theme of the night was stiff...
...upper lips, hors d'oeuvres, and...
...self-congratulatory speeches....
...What the 1% called a "press...
...conference."...
...I camped out at the side of the...
...room with my back against the...
...wall. I pulled at a loose thread...
...on my green lace dress. It had...
...been years since I'd attended...
...anything so formal, but I...
...looked the part....
...When pressed, I cleaned up...
...gOod...
...We'd see if it would make any...
...difference....
...I'd done a few circles through...
...the crowd looking for Price...
...without any luck....
...Midway through another loop, I...
...caught a glimpse of something...
...shiny on the floor....
...A pair of shoes. Black. Italian...
...leather so waxed, it reflected...
...the overhead lights as sharply...
...as a laser pointer....
...They belonged to Taylor Price...
...himself....
...He stood leaning against the bar...
...with his perfectly coiffed black...
...hair, his perfect suit, and his...
...Perfert glass of scotch....
...I took a deep breath before...
...walking over to the bar....
..."Mr. Price?" I said....
...He turned his head and stared...
...back at me with piercing blue...
...eyes....
...Fucking hell, was he hot....
...He arched an eyebrow at me,...
...disinterested....
..."I'm sorry, you...
...are...?"...
..."Kate. Kate Dawson from The...
...Daily House." I said, offering a...
...smile....
...Something shifted in his...
...expression His eyes darkenedhappily....
..."Right. The reporter. I...
...believe we were supposed to...
...meet."...
..."Twice, actually.'...
...» I couldn't...
...help myself. I'd always had a...
...big mouth....
..."I suppose I ought to...
...apologize,...
...» he said....
...I thought that's what he was...
...going to do: apologize....
...But he moved forward, faster...
...than I expected....
..."Do you know...
...why I invited you tonight, Ms....
...Dawson?"...
...What does he want me to say?...
..."Well, the interview, I...
...thought....
...He smiled, shaking his head....
..."No, not that."...
...I began to see red....
...He was screwing with me; that...
...was why he'd brought me here....
..."You're really not going to give...
...me an interview?"...
...His smile grew and he laughed....
..."Okay, I guess I'm leaving....
...99...
...threw up my hands and turned...
...to leave, then turned again....
..."Can you tell me what your...
...problem is and get to the end of...
...this? I don't want to come...
...back."...
..."Off the record, I'm not a big...
...fan of reporters. I'm tired of...
...being bothered, pestered,...
...shouted at, photographed....
...Hiding my face at the airport,...
...making sure my mail is...
...shredded, my guard always...
...." He made dramatic hand...
...gestures as he spoke....
..."Piranhas nipping at me all day....
...So I hope this taste of irritation...
...that is my life with you people...
...has been informative. Let's try...
...again for that interview real...
...soon,...
...» he said. satisfied with...
...himself....
...I struggled but kept my anger in...
...check. I didn't want to give him...
...the satisfaction....
...But he studied my face and...
...knew he'd gotten to me....
...Happy with his victory, he...
...walked away....
..."Motherfu-...
..." I hissed under...
...my breath, staring daggers into...
...his back....
..."Ouch."...
...I jumped at the sudden voice...
...behind me. A blond man with...
...sympathetic eyes leaned against...
...the bar, nursing a martini,...
...shaking his head....
...You heard that?' I asked....
...hoping he hadn...
..."t...
..."Well. I'm...
...glad to spread joy and...
...amusement wherever I go."...
...I looked into the crowd....
..."Are...
...they all assholes?"...
..."I'm kinda one of...
..."them,...
..." so l...
...hope we're not all assholes...
...He grinned. "I'm Brandon."...
..."Kate." I shook his hand....
...Well, Kate. I may have some...
...good news for you. With your...
...Taylor situation."...
...He looked serious, but I had no...
...idea what he meant....
..."You know...
...him?" I asked....
..."Oh, very well. We're like...
...brothers. I always feel I need to...
...apologize for the little shit....
...Sorry."...
...He was right: they weren't all...
...assholes....
..."Taylor has an office on this...
...floor, and after they do the...
...toasts in a few minutes, he'll...
...probably duck back in there to...
...take a break from the party. I'll...
...let security know you're...
...coming. Try again."...
..."Try again? Try what?" What...
...was he talking about?...
..."Your interview,...
...» Brandon...
...replied...
..."Taylor's the type of...
...guy, sometimes, that if you...
...want something from him, you...
...gotta push his buttons....
..."So, push his buttons by...
...showing up in his office...
...unexpected?That seems like a...
...bad plan....
...» I scowled. not...
...sensing the logic here....
..."Well. not in his office. You'd...
...have to wait in the lobby, but...
...his office is right next to it."...
..."Are you for real?" I needed...
...confirmation before I let myself...
...get too hopeful....
...He nodded. I couldn't believe...
...it. Was I getting a second-...
...well, fourth...
...chance?...
...TAYLOR...
...I had managed to avoid her all...
...night....
...But it was only a matter of time...
...before we would collide....
...And it was upon me. Tom, my...
...business partner, approached...
...with her....
...Everly Grey....
...His fiancée. She looked more...
...radiant than ever in a silver,...
...backless dress....
..."Taylor," she said....
..."It's been a...
...long time."...
...In that instant. even as she...
...stood beside her soon-to-be...
...husband. I knew....
...We were going to **** again...
...tonight....
...KATE...
...A security guard swiped a...
...keycard for me at Brandon's...
...authorization, and I was led...
...into the lobby on the other side...
...of the building....
...Most of the lights were off, and...
...I didn't know which office was...
...Taylor's, so I found a chair and...
...waited....
...I glanced around the lobby, past...
...unremarkable desk cubicles and...
...printers and potted plants....
...There was nothing going on...
...here tonight....
...If Taylor was going to do a few...
...toasts, he'd probably be back...
...soon....
...But...
..."soon"...
...came quicker than I...
...thought. The door burst open,...
...and I saw Taylor pulling a...
...breathtakingly beautiful woman...
...by the wrist to an office....
...I was to the right of the door,...
...and he went left, not even...
...aware of me....
..."Get in here," he said....
..."Keep your voice down!" she...
...replied....
...He slammed the door behind...
...them. "Someone will hear,...
...don't be so loud!" she said...
...behind the door...
..."Stop talking,...
...» was the only...
...thing he said, and that was the...
...end of the conversation....
...I heard grunts and clothes...
...coming off inside....
...So much for that interview....
...The door back to the gala, the...
...door they had just come...
...through, was close, but if I...
...opened it, Taylor would see the...
...light shine in from outside....
...He was a strange one who...
...already didn't like me. I didn't...
...want to be caught here....
...I edged toward the door, which...
...brought me closer to the...
...window into the office they'd...
...gone into....
...As I got closer, the window was...
...right in front of me....
...And through it, I saw Taylor...
...Price on top of the woman....
...Kissing passionately. Almost...
...violently. Like they wanted to...
...rip more than each other's...
...clothes off....
...I reached out for the doorknob....
...afraid to be trapped in the lobby...
...with them fucking on the other...
...side of a wall....
...The wall shook. I turned to...
...look....
...He'd slammed her on the table,...
...face down, and was pulling up...
...her silver, backless dress....
...Within seconds, he was hiking...
...down her underwear and had...
...his pants down. He ******...
...himself into her....
...I slapped my hands over my...
...mouth in shock....
...She cried out, gripping the table...
...for support as he rammed her...
...from behind....
..."You fucking had to come...
...back. You just had to."...
...«Fuck you,...
...» she said, moaning,...
...pushing against him....
..."Harder....
...Harder!'...
...The table slammed again and...
...again as Taylor fucked her. I...
...decided this was the best time...
...to make a run for it....
...But before I could grab the...
...doorknob, their rhythm...
...changed, and I heard something...
...else: the sounds of someone...
...choking....
...Price had his hands on her...
...throat, squeezing her from...
...behind....
...Her eyes rolled up as he...
...pumped away....
...In ecstasy or pain, I couldn't...
...tell....
...But when he released her for a...
...second, and she caught her...
...breath, her eyes came back...
...down and...
...She looked right at me. She sawme. She saw me....
..."Taylor," she gasped....
...I grabbed the doorknob and...
...bolted, racing back down the...
...hall to the gala. I traced the...
...route back to my car in my...
...head, pulling off my heels so I...
...could go faster....
...TAYLOR...
..."She saw us. I'm sure of it."...
...Everly said, peeling herself off...
...the table and pushing her dress...
...back down....
...What the **** is wrong with me? ...
..."What the **** am I doing?" I...
...said, furious with myself....
...How did I give into this again?...
...I pulled my clothes back on as...
...fast as I could....
...There was a glint of emotion in...
...her emerald eyes, which twisted...
...the knife in my heart....
...She said,'...
...«You can say it, you...
...know. I missed you too."...
...«This is a mistake,...
...» I said, as...
...cold as I could manage. I threw...
...my clothes back on....
..."See...
...yourself out."...
...I left without another word....
...stomping back toward the party.There was a glint of emotion in...
...her emerald eyes, which twisted...
...the knife in my heart....
...She said, "You can say it, you...
...know. I missed you too."...
..."This is a mistake," I said, as...
...cold as I could manage. I threw...
...my clothes back on....
..."See...
...yourself out."...
...left without another word....
...stomping back toward the party....
...I have to get control of myself....
...And I had to get control of Kate...
...Dawson....
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
