"No." Behind his desk Jonathon Harper's bushy eyebrows took a dive as he reclined in the leather chair. "You said yes. Rush made it perfectly clear it's you or no account."

The air sped from her lungs, momentarily disorienting her. In the next instant her heart kicked in, an insistent thump-thump against her ribs. "Jon…you know we had history—he was involved with my sister—"

"And I really don't care. You've known him since, what—tenth grade?"

"Yes, but I really don't think—"

"Here are his clippings." Jon tossed a file on his desk. "This is non-negotiable, Yelena," he added pointedly before she could say another word. "I gave you six months off, no questions. You want to be considered for partner now? You clear your schedule. What Alex Rush wants, you give him."

With a final wave of his hand, he turned back to his computer, dismissing her.

Yelena glared at his perfectly groomed head for a few seconds before sweeping up the file and turning on her heel.

By the time she'd stalked down the hall, her high heels clicking out her fury on the cool slate floor, reality had swept in to douse every irrational thought.

She ground to a stop, staring at her closed office door at the end of the silent hallway. If she was Jonathon's partner, his equal, he'd never have played her. But the man obviously thought her and Alex's tenacious past was an advantage, not