Ashes Of Affection

n perfume. This was her home. Her father's legacy. The place where deals were once sealed over cham

he next lot. Savannah barely heard him. Her eyes were fixed on the fireplace mantel where the family crest used to hang. It

loudly to her husband, "This place could make a

s fingers

ed. Until she reached the hallway where she used to play violin at ten, where her mother once kissed her foreh

rned out, were

rough the slit at the bottom, sliding across the floor like it had purpose. She sta

h a soft crack. The letterhead bore the logo of First Horizon Bank. S

ure Effective Immediat

blink. She

until the paper creas

ered with chandeli

red wine, her dark curls coiled over one bare shoulder. At a glance, she was every bit the Souther

the foundatio

n in wh

" "She's trying to sell their Charleston ho

hat she'd been taught. Don't flinch. Don

tered in St. Louis society was present. Men in tailored suits, women in gowns stitched by hands paid more th

he stood alone near the balcony doors, her back stra

the voice. S

g from the crowd with a smile that didn't touch her

l, and adored. Her blonde hair swept into an effortless updo, diamond

yes flicking over her rival's designer dress. "I

rned. Blair's

oice. "We all know what's coming. The whispers. The de

rs squared. "And you're the roa

have end

microphone. The pianist

ting. "A toast to our lovely Savannah Delacroix. May

owd la

nah d

, and walked through the heavy doors to the balcony. The nigh

elled like jas

s pressed tightly together. She hated the weakness in her chest

the soft click of ap

ong in there,"

Steady

nah t

n. The man headlines called cold-blooded brilliance. The youngest corporate empire builde

, flicked to her bare shoulders. Th

ss," he sai

at gave it away? The bleeding e

ged at his lips. "You're

n. "And you're not

hands in his pockets.

h a soul mad

and quiet. "You

he sounds of the gala faded behind th

pted to be soft, his suit tailored with predatory precision

ding," he sa

r palm had a small cut from

t and pulled out a handkerchief. H

ingers

c. Somethin

ping it around he

warning, he reached into his coat pocket

ed it lightly into the side of he

now when

rived, he turned and disappeare

exhaled

ed inside her purse,

No website. Just a na

Callah