When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Miranda spoke as though the universe had appointed her judge, jury, and executioner. Whatever left her lips became law.

Around her, the sales team bristled in silent revolt, their frustration coiling behind polite smiles they dared not let slip.

"Uh..." one assistant began, the syllable wobbling in mid-air before she swallowed the rest of the sentence.

None of them had the stomach to yank a mask off one child just to appease another spoiled brat.

Seeing their hesitation, Miranda advanced, heels clicking like a metronome of doom.

"If you're too scared, I'll do it myself."

Whatever veneer of high-society elegance she once flaunted shattered in that moment. She was about to wrestle a monkey mask from a child whose parents weren't even in sight.

Beneath the monkey mask, Jonathan's small face had turned to ice.

He readied himself. The second Miranda grabbed for him, he planned to sink his little teeth into her wrist.

Just then, the junior assistant who had gone to fetch clothes for Jonathan re- emerged, arms buried under a tower of luxury garments.

"Young sir, would you mind seeing whether any of these might suit the grown-ups at home?"

Heads pivoted toward her in symphonic unison.

gathered here?"

softly the words almost broke. "Ivy, what are you

like a

others, locked in cutthroat competition, decided a rookie deserved no favors and fell conspicuously

Jonathan, bypassing Miranda as if the woman were a

a look. Perhaps one of these would make

was caught flat-footed by the newcomer's

two months and had no idea

are you

more puzzled than

speak

place in the lowest rung of retail and still expect me

even

say something

s

Ivy's cheeks in a furious, embarrassed rush.

shoved her aside. "Out of my sight. I won't repeat myself. Test me again and I'll see

staggered back several steps, her ankles wobbling so badly she nearly crashed onto the mirror-bright

as the

her, she drew herself upright She needed the

never let her