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collected. She
wished she could be so calm but the betrayal, the deviousness of Victoria’s
schemes cut deep.
    “What do I do now?” she asked.
    “The company is all yours.”
    “My mother’s legacy.”
    What a legacy. It was more money than she’d ever dreamed of
having. More than she’d ever be able to spend. She released years of anger and
frustration, knowing it was time to move on.
    She turned to Preston. “I remember my grandfather vaguely.
He was a very big man with a booming voice. Once in a great while, my mother
would take me with her to the factory.”
    She hadn’t thought about her grandfather in a long time.
She’d hated the factory, the noise and people running around. Her grandmother
had been a famous model and according to family legend, her grandfather had
started the company, Sparkle Industries, just for her.
    Probably another lie.
    “I will take you there if you like.”
    “No, I don’t want to see it.”
    “You’re not even curious?”
    Cadence shook her head. “I was never into fashion much. I
was the kid with her nose always in a book.”
    “There’s more.”
    She was struck by how extraordinarily sensitive he was.
“You’re right. Going out there will remind me of my mother.”
    “She wanted you to have the company. I’ll bet she would’ve
wanted you to take over for her.”
    “I don’t know a thing about the fashion industry, let alone
how to run a business.”
    “You’re smart and you’re savvy. You’ll catch on.”
    “I appreciate the vote of confidence.” She made a
decision—the only one she could make. “I’m going to sell Sparkle Industries.”
    “In this economy? You’ll take a loss.”
    “Better than running my inheritance into the ground.” She
rose. She couldn’t sit any longer. “I can live comfortably on thirty-seven
million.”
    “Why don’t you think about it? Sparkle has a strong
management team. They’ll run things until you make up your mind.”
    “No.” He’d given her good reasons to keep Sparkle but she
just couldn’t.
    “I know a couple of excellent real estate agents who
specialize in commercial real estate. You’ll need a financial planner for tax
purposes. I’ll give you their numbers.”
    “Thanks.” She hesitated. She’d one more favor to ask. “I’d
like Night and Night to keep managing the trust.”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “I’ll need one of my own.”
    He smiled. He had such a dazzling smile.
    Having made several important decisions, Cadence had a
gigantic brain freeze. This morning she had been so angry, not at all sure what
to do and feeling as if she were controlled by an evil woman who had stolen her
inheritance. Now Mr. Night, practically in shining armor—no he was in shining Armani —was
telling her she was rich, far richer than the greedy bitch who’d influenced her
father to change his will.
    Preston had given her excellent advice. Victoria and the
evil spawn would be pissed if they found out. Cadence would have to guard this
secret, and it would be difficult.
    “I need to have you sign some papers,” Preston said.
    “Papers?”
    “Yes, legal and tax documents.”
    “Of course. I’m sorry, Preston, I feel a major headache
coming on. It has been a really trying day. Is it possible that we meet later
this afternoon to sign papers—or even better, tomorrow morning?”
    “Whatever you want. I’ll have my driver take you back to
your hotel.”
    “Yes. Please.”
    It was all too much. A stabbing pain shot across her
forehead and she reached up to rub it. This was going to be a whopper of a
headache.
    She reached into her purse and pulled out her bottle of
ibuprofen. Shaking out two pills, she wished the day were over. She swallowed
them and gulped down the last of the water in her glass. She replaced the glass
on the table.
    Preston quickly came to her side. The length of his muscular
body so close to hers sent a shiver up her spine—and yet at the same time, she
could feel the heat emanating from