Tyler held his own gaze. He recited words he had said to himself more times than he cared to count.He knew what he had to do. Every step of his plan.He was going to start right at the top and work his way down.“Edward Kramer. Vincent Kramer. Phase one,” he muttered, keeping his voice low even though he was alone.“Kramer Holdings. Kramer Estate. Phase two.”“In one year’s time. I will wipe the slate clean. All you have done to me, I will repay. With interest,” he rumbled.The Master of the Miran Auction house inhaled deeply as he let the rage run its course. He had already learned never to try to cage it. Not when it was this high.Repeating his mantra did not help. He already knew it wouldn’t.He watched himself tremble, felt every muscle tighten as he gritted his teeth. His hands on the sink balled into white knuckled fists.His corneas reddened and his vision blurred.Not from tears, those were long spent, but from an ache in his head, his chest, and his stomach that felt as if

It had been a simple gesture, but one that had imprinted itself on Emily’s heart.A few days of visiting and the young boy had asked off-handedly about her preferred type of jewelry.Being sickly and weak most of the time, she had never given such things any thought. She had not been expected to live past the age of five, and if not for the boy’s intervention on that rooftop, she would not have been alive to be asked that question.She had snapped at him then, and he had fallen silent, but had not left her room, even as she turned her back to him on the bed.He had stayed the full hour that had become his custom.Two days later, he had visited late at night, after coming for his usual afternoon visit. He had said some words she had not heard clearly in her heavily medicated state, a light had shone briefly from his cupped palms, then he had leaned over her, the warmth of his large frame reaching her very bones.Then he had faced her, his soft breath falling on her lips. Then he drew c

Tyler sped through the empty countryside streets and hit the city in ten minutes, where he finally slowed to a reasonable limit.He had been on the phone throughout his drive from the country house, finalizing things with his people.Lord Kramer’s birthday was upper Friday, and he was checking on the placements he was making for the party that was sure to be a grand event.Now, within the city limits, he was speaking with Harrison.“I’ll be over tonight to see the guys Lincoln selected. Have them available to meet. If there’s any scheduling issue, confirm the time or change the player,” Tyler swiftly informed Lincoln Brazer’s right-hand man.“Sure thing, Ty. Oh, one more thing,” Harry replied pleasantly, then urgently, sensing that Tyler was about to end the call the way he usually did – no sign off, just a busy signal.“Shoot,” Tyler replied breezily as he sped past a trailer

Brandon stepped forward urgently. “That works, Ash. I can go. Adrian won’t mind. He doesn’t like all those charts and graphs,” Brandon chimed in, staring enthusiastically at his mistress.Before Tyler came in to report to Ashley, the three had been discussing this very subject – who would attend the brunch with the heiress – when Tyler had not come up at his usual 9 a.m. to greet the Boss Lady.Ashley’s mood had been low until they received a call from Tyler’s floor that he was in the building.Both aides knew their mistress was keen on taking the inspector to the meeting. She had already made plans for it a full week in advance.And both men had been more than happy to have the upstart miss the event.But the man himself had waltzed in at 10:35 a.m., and now, here they all were.“I second that, Ash,” Adrian piled on hurriedly, “I’m fine watching the phones here.”<

“This launch… There will be nobles there… a lot of them… nobles don’t usually… like commoners,” Tyler deflected, blinking rapidly.“Won’t it be an issue that someone of my status is there?” he asked hesitantly, switching to full Varsen mode.“Like I said, you’re my plus one. My head mine inspector is away and I brought his top staff in his stead, what’s wrong with that?” Ashley replied calmly.Tyler smiled lightly, nodding as he turned his gaze back to the window.The window was on his right. Ashley was seated across from him, facing forward, in the owner’s spot.“I don’t want to embarrass you,” he murmured.“You won't,” she almost whispered.Tyler Varsen closed his eyes.“Ma’am –”“We're here,” Ashley called out, too brightly, as she cut off whatever he had inten