Castelli's Virgin Widow. Caitlin Crews

past, as you must be shoehorned in whether we like it or not.” He turned his gaze on her. “As you can see, they’re thrilled.”

      Kathryn’s stomach sank to her feet, because she understood what he’d done. Her pathetic little fantasies of distinguishing herself somehow through hard work in some forgotten corner of the office where she could quietly shine crumbled all around her.

      Her mother would be furious. She’d claim that this was exactly what had happened when Kathryn tried to defy her and strike out on her own. Kathryn felt a sinking feeling in her gut, as if maybe Rose was right.

      And maybe it was hideously disloyal, maybe it made her a terrible person and an ungrateful child, but Kathryn really, really didn’t want that to be true.

      “You painted a target on my back,” she said now, her lips feeling numb. “You did it deliberately.”

      This time, Luca’s smile reached his eyes, but that didn’t make it any warmer. Or this situation any better. “I did.”

      Then he pushed open the conference room door and fed her straight to the wolves.