The Quiet Assistant's Roar

polite inquiry

rawled, "Well, well, looks like our Ava h

ors" sound like some

community college debate c

anyone recognizing Ava must

but it was quickly overshadowed

ward slightly, a protective gest

said to Julian, his voice smooth but wi

her arm, a clear s

Ethan' s hand, then back to

rceptible shake of her head t

ubtle acknowledgmen

Julian said, then melted back into

s Upper East Side apartm

g Manhattan skyline, each light a pinprick

lously large apartment

that gu

just curious; it

ed to kn

lse," Ava said, her voice carefully

sed, his eyes narrowed. "You should be more careful

h rise. Opportunistic?

ant something from me?" she asked, keeping her tone even. "Or a

e she could stop them, s

oftened, a prac

. I just worry about yo

nto a hug that

etly, her face against his expensive cashmere swea

rger, y

d bring it up, or perhaps

strategic alliance. It doe

is Parker thing... it' s just something my famil

uasive murmur, the kind t

e her feel sick. He

y a little later. "Work stuff," he'd

ne in the cavern

amplified

as an engagement. He was g

he side, his "simple" comfort, until

of it, the disrespe

ion, her belief in their future,

An unknown number.

h Ethan at some gala Ava hadn't been invited t

was simple

asn't just Ethan's betrayal; C

of an exquisite diamond ring on Chloe' s hand, Ethan' s

as a c

rs tightened

e for Ethan, already battere

rom his study,

d, "The deal I was worki

ought she'd be

oked at him, perhaps for th

ished exterior – it was all

e said, her voice

er lack of enthusiasm bu

uple of days. Meeting with some ne

rehead. "Be good

his bedroom to pack, a cold

er. He'd be busy w

buzzed aga

him there for a 'strategy session'? Some mergers requ

Chloe on a private jet, a

they were a deliberate, cruel

"Hostile takeover." Chloe was

Ethan's casual dismissal, his friend

h she felt for Etha

a cold, hard anger and a

s simple. He thou

o find out how

d into the small Brooklyn a

tually flustered woman

you're

I need to give you m

ed. "What? Why? I

ered, their faces e

, joked. "Or are you finally eloping with t

ionaire. If o

a small, eni

she said. "Just decided

r real identity, remain

hicago, his voice full of forced cheer

trip. For

ay there, darl

eplied, her voice cool. "

d puzzled. "That's new. F

s DMs and the hidden engagement invitation she'd found tucked away

was tomorrow. Sh