THE STERLING INHERITANCE

: Viv

e, fifteen minutes before my scheduled meeting.

f architecture that announced wealth without apology. I'd researched the property over the

bly cost six figures each, a reception desk that looked like it belonged in a spaceship.

is expecting you. I'll let hi

expensive enough to command respect, conservative enough to project competence. My hair wa

inch the senior

ce matter, high-profile client, significant estate involved. The kind of case that

questions, anticipating complications. By the time I went to bed, I

ady for

I th

Ash

e gray dress. Everything about her screamed competent executive assi

s's executive assistant.

ing my briefcas

and Seattle traffic. The elevator was mirrored on all sides, and I caugh

eption area here was smaller, more intimate. Soft gray carpet, abstract pai

meeting?" Katherine asked as we wal

ne, tha

he gestured to a corner conference room wi

hone pressed to his ear. His back was to the hallway-tall, dark

le that could seat twelve, modern chairs, more of those expensive abstract paintings. But th

his call, gesturing slightly as he

d. "But I'm not making that decisio

mory, but I dismissed it. I'd never met

nd pen. First impressions mattered. I wanted to appear organized, prep

herine said from the doorway. "He's ve

nk y

leaving me alone with the ma

tch. Eight fifty-n

hing about quarterly projections-then ended

rned a

rld st

fract

very professional word I'd

sh softness, sharpened by age and success into something striking. The scruff he used to wear w

the

eyes were

hat used to look at me like I was his entire world. T

s across the c

t train. My breath caught. My grip on my

o

uldn'

n't po

it

ofessional, giving absolutely nothing a

losed. My heart was hammering so

The Forbes 400 list. The man whose founda

ved. The man I'd left. The choice I'd r

topped. My voice sounded

olled, measured. Nothing like the impulsive, passionate p

." He gestur

ying to reconcile past and present, trying to understand

n? How had I not m

xist anymore, I realized. He'd e

hisper. I tried again, forcing strength

was unreadable. Professi

chair to steady myself. "The files just s

nce between us. His hands slipped into his pockets, and

en years since I'd chosen a job offer in New

and he'd

o many questions. When did you change your name? When did you b

neutral. But I knew him-or I used to know him-well enough to see t

sting him s

e formal address felt like a slap. "I assum

t Viv, like he used to say, s

hough my voice shook slig

ouldn't do anything but stare at thi

his composure. "If you'd prefer to r

aightened my spine, reaching for the professional armor I

hair, sat down with the easy confidence of so

in. Couldn't think

d left, sitting across from me in a thousand-dollar suit

d name feeling strange and familiar o