Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 39

Victor kept his head down, scrawling his signature in an elegant flourish at the bottom of the document.

At the sound of footsteps, he looked up, half-expecting Isadora. But the woman standing in front of him was someone else entirely.

His brow furrowed, a shadow of annoyance crossing his face.

With a cool, measured voice, he asked, "Who are you?"

Pearl was momentarily stunned the instant Victor glanced her way—his striking good looks were almost disarming. He had fair, cool-toned skin, deep-set eyes, a sharp nose, and chiseled features. The corners of his eyes were long and narrow, and his lips-full and sensual-hinted at a quiet intensity.

Today, he wore a simple gray dress shirt, the top two buttons undone, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, sculpted forearms. Even as he wrote, veins traced faint lines beneath his skin, giving him an air of restrained power.

Pearl's thoughts ran wild before she could stop herself.

What would it feel like to have those perfect hands wrapped around her waist? Or to be kissed by those devastating lips?

The idea sent a rush of heat through her body, making her blood hum.

"I-I'm Pearl, the daughter of the Vaughan family. From The Vaughan Group," she stammered.

impatient as he cast a brief,

Superficial. Ordinary.

Utterly forgettable.

"Yes, that's me. The Vaughan family only has one daughter,

out a cold, derisive laugh. "Imitations get copied so often that even the fake

flushed with embarrassment, and she

what you think. I may not share their bloodline, but the Vaughan family raised me, shaped my character, my manners-everything about me for the past twenty years. So I am, in every

couldn't have cared less about

known it was this counterfeit who wanted to see him, he never would

me today? Be quick

of true Vaughan blood. Bitterness welled up in her chest. If Isadora hadn't returned three years ago,

quickly collected herself. She couldn't forget why

we're a bit short on funding. I was hoping to secure an investment from

folding his arms across his chest, his demeanor bored and

Why, indeed?

Pearl had

sure to keep herself informed. From her purse, she pulled out a detailed investment proposal

was Isadora's work-Pearl had even arranged for someone to steal it from her office. She had to admit, it was