THE CONTRACTUAL HEARTBEAT

l

the truth s

that before it does,

There's someone else in this penthouse. Or something Lucas hasn't told me. The west wi

, I'm wire

g like clockwork outside my door. I throw on jeans and a t-shirt from m

rse, he's a

Tyranny like it'

me," I say wi

k up. "Good mo

ying in your forbidd

, just for a frac

ou not to

me we were be

moment. This

hiding s

e book down and ri

k past me, but I

s in

you need

. it was real

awa

nd

you explana

eel wrapped in velve

ur public love story. If there's a ghost in

ightens.

won

owering over me with that ruthless ca

I do

's behind tha

th?" he says

affectionately, but deli

died in t

ree

ept the windows open no matter the season. M

ghs bi

room. Heart attack. I w

in front of me becomes

re forbidden to enter. The piano pl

once, I see the storm be

you k

weight of his words pr

uth, unsure

lready tur

thing I know won

sor

Doesn't

"She's the reason I d

en he'

seen him f

he glass balcony, trying to recreate that melody in colors, soft

third day,

oon with a hurricane of desig

t tonight," she says. "Lu

eople talking about hedge funds

ear the nav

Tell Lucas

with a smirk. "He's the one wh

ns cold. "W

violate image expectations

y. "Fine. Let'

and moonlight. There are CEOs, fashion editors, politicians, tech mogul,s s

arm, and the silence that

she ar

is Cass

for days. Lip

rently, L

ht up to us like s

e I'm a stain on her couture. "You mus

must be the regret h

"Lucas always did like broken things. Didn

is throat. "Ca

What? Just c

el. "You still like violins at midnight? Or did y

up, but I stay stil

or me," Lucas sa

s smile

yone gets a second chance. Especially not

ests murmur. Cassi

ghter, and for the fir

pers through gritted tee

ut I whisper back, "Then

e back i

I br

e one who

e. "No. I was broken

ill wan

. I just happen

im. "Did yo

ught I

happ

my father's business partner.

falls ope

I learned to separ

I can stop myself. "A

s. "You're a

What does

re never suppose

night, I co

to the w

the door

pen slowly,

ndows. Dust-covered furniture. A grand piano in the

rd it, hear

I

hover ove

lay. I do

keys. Gently.

, the doo

tu

nds there

t supposed

ocked th

"It's time s

ver. Sits

morning," he says. "Said it reminded h

esses

spills int

beauty. Even when

ke someone I w

"She would've l

ges between us

unspoken

y brushes a strand o

ree

ngerous,"

you," I

n he ki

ste of a truth we both

the silence that f

sta

nge anything," he

. "It changes

esit

n he wa

ano, the ghosts, and a storm