l, her breathing even and slow, faking a deep sleep she was far from feeling. She listened to the familiar sounds o
e. She felt the weight of his gaze but didn't flinch. Aft
ront door locking echoe
sharp, crystalline clarity. She threw back the duvet, her bare feet silen
ays claimed he needed absolute privacy for h
side a large, antique vase on a display shelf. Her fingers foundey slid into the lock with a s
coffee. She went straight to the massive walnut d
Ava's birthday. 081
y folder related to finances was protected
vanity, his predictable nature. She spun the dials to his own birth date. Nothing. She tried the date they bought the apartment. Still locked. Her handsThe logo at the top of the page made her blood run co
tatements. The recipient's name was
fer, a staggering sum, had been made one week
This was a long con. A meticulously planned operation to defraud her. Her
took out her phone, photographing every single page
p-beep of the front door k
as b
er, fumbled with the lock, and slammed it shut. She closed the laptop and grabbed a
s stood there, his expression ins
you doin
one. "Just looking for something to read. I was
ng for any sign of disturbance. He saw nothin
lked to the desk, opened a different drawer, and pulled
said, her voice s
front door clicked shut for the second time, her legs gave out. She slid down
lcony, her phone already in her hand. Sh
rd thing. "It's Dallas. He's moving my trust fund money of
ther end. "I'm on it. I'll call my contac
an skyline, at the towers of glass and steel g
office door, and carefully placed it back in the bottom o
ngle cent. She would
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