Cordelia's mouth clenches when she takes a look at the charge card Lyon slid over the table.

She knows his fee is going to be high but her jaw drops at the ridiculous numbers written on it.

She draws a tiny line with her lips and throws it back across the table.

Her voice is low but piercing as she hisses, "This is crazy, Ryder. I refuse to pay that.

And for your other request,—" she says in a tone subtly laced with contempt, "—you can forget it."

Lyon laughs quietly and reclines in his chair, seemingly taking pleasure in her annoyance. "You should understand that negotiating is an art,...