Julian Thorne did not remember the drive from the waterfront high-rise back to his office. He didn't remember stumbling into his private elevator, or the alarmed look Marcus had given him before Julian slammed his office door shut and locked it.

All he could hear, echoing in the cavernous, silent

The morning sun poured through the massive loft windows of Vance & Quinn’s new headquarters, illuminating the dust motes dancing over the drafting tables. Clara stood at the espresso machine, pulling a double shot with the precise, rhythmic movements of a woman entirely in control of her domain.

"

The morning after Clara left Serena Croft trembling in a luxury French bistro, the fallout hit the Seattle business world like a seismic tremor.

Clara was standing at her drafting table, reviewing the final topographical maps for the Sterling waterfront project, when Harper kicked open the glass d