The Rejected Burden: Rising From The Shadows

It smelled of expensive leather and a floral perfume that probably cost more than her assistant's monthly salary. She

to the opulence around them. The remnants of his law career, before the federal plea deal that had shackled him and, by extension, her. His face was neu

o scrape against her nerves. "You are going to look like you own the ro

had been liquidating personal assets for this gala ticket for months, skipping board

oice sounding breathless even to her own e

e layers of tissue paper. He paused, looking up at Isadora w

, leaning against the doorframe. "Gr

ke missing a step on a staircase. She gripped the edge of the dresse

casual, but she knew she was failing.

He certainly did. He bought the last Aurelia Eternity Lock brace

ago while sitting on Grafton's couch, watching a Knicks game. She had jokingly told him that the l

ra repeated, the words tas

tention back to the schematic on the table. "I have a feeling you're go

turn, he offered cryptic warnings and maintained the facade of their transactional marriage. She walked out of the bedroom hugging the dress to

the back of her door. It shimmered under the warm light

af

h, counting to three befo

ght. I have something important to tell yo

ort

ck. Important meant that after twenty years of being his family friend, his shadow, his "li

Zoe. Isadora answered, letting out a shaky breath tha

" Isadora yelled before

ted but clearly skeptical. "Are you sure,

om. "And he just texted me to meet him at the club because he has something

e you're right. He's dense, but maybe he fina

of her mirror. She looked at her reflection. Her cheek

othing too bold. She put on the champagne dress. It fit like a second skin, the silk cool again

She remembered being ten years old, scraping her knee on the playground, and Grafton

ed. Her Uber w

bought for him. A gift to celebrate their new venture. She checked her reflection one last tim

g the mail. She stopped and stared.

ke it," Is

packing District, the streets getting narrower, the cobblestones vibrating beneath the tire

already around the block. The bass from the club thumped agai

t the neon sign buzzing above the heavy iron doors. This was it.