From Ashes, A New Empire

in Tribeca. I was five minutes early, sitting at t

he wal

oman from th

hair was down, softening the severe lines of her face. S

ened in recognition. A slow

said, walki

ck, standing up.

"It seems your brother and my cousin

l awkwardness of a blind date replac

rd. "Did you ever figure out a

t. "I did. Thank you. And I'

ve had all year." She paused, her gaze direct. "I run a real estate development fi

Development, was legendary. They w

inued, a small smile on her lips. "Your work has poten

bout New York, about our ambitions. She was sharp, witty, and she listened to me in a wa

eing each oth

nature that was pulling me out of the toxic swamp of my family home. I

s jealousy was a

ents whenever I came hom

ch girlfriend to solve all

a strange, unreadable

house in the Adirondacks. Morgan had come with me. It was the first ti

an was on his best behavior, overly charmi

day, he mad

an old wooden porch swing that my father had built years ago. I saw Ryan

ically plopped h

of bolts shearing. The swing collaps

t a screa

e shrieked, clutching his wrist. "He' s je

his side, her fa

eyes wild. "I knew you were unstable! Ge

d confused. But Chloe was hysterical,

ing finger at me, her f

the police and have yo