I smiled to myself, feeling a sudden surge of satisfaction.

It was no secret that I had a way with men. My affectionate, disarming front could be persuasive when I needed it to be, and I wasn't above using it to survive.

It hadn't been easy convincing Sullivan to make me his lady—to let me stand beside him, be part of his operations, and become the public face of his business. I couldn't wait to get my hands into the wedding preparations for Adam, either.

How dare he try to humiliate me downstairs? I was going to make sure he knew exactly what he had lost. I wanted to rub...