The Architect of Her Own Ruin

that earnest expression I used to find so charming. We were in the glass-walled confer

ice low and serious. "A big one. Cash flow.

ighten in my stomach. Th

put the offer in on the house in Westlake. But I need you to do something for me. For

ened his tone. "It's just temporary, babe

design, every client negotiation, every late night over blueprints. Matthew was the

, the words feeling

money I' d painstakingly saved since college, the money for our future

m during a quick coffee break, I saw a new

d. A brand new condo in a

ettering, were two names: Ma

rocess what I was seeing. Then, with a strange, detache

the main office floor. Sabrina was sobbing,

! I can't believe

a protective arm around her, glaring in my direc

Now," Matthew's v

n emergency all-hands meeting righ

still making little hiccuping s

a," he announced, his voice booming with manufactured outrage.

n public. "You are going to apologize to Sabrina. And you will offer to cover

designers exchange

?" I asked, my voic

gement. It' s to help her younger brother establish residency so he can qualify for a s

sion. Everyone was staring

s my face. I started clapping, a slow, deli

t a great joke, Matt. Really hilarious. Everyone,