Cassian and his executive assistant remained sequestered in the study for a long time before finally stepping out.
By the time they emerged, Genevieve had composed herself so completely it was as though nothing had happened. She remained rooted to the exact same spot she had occupied earlier, still as a statue.
The assistant did not linger for a second once he cleared the doorway; he walked straight out of the Thorne estate.
Cassian, meanwhile, sank back onto the leather sofa.
He sat with his legs apart, resting his right elbow on his right knee, and reached for the hot water kettle on the marble coffee table with his left hand, poised to pour boiling water into the teapot.
Genevieve stepped forward in two quick strides and caught his wrist, mimicking the exact motion she had used to
