ael'

door long after

ey J

ended. But I hadn't expected her to leav

for me. Undress fo

had ever w

r a night

I looked down at the check, rippe

meant

does tha

alks away

side, and watched her disappear into the crowd. He

ing inside

't just

way she refu

Even raw. She h

idea how r

know what made he

*

Hours

ng through the dossier my i

ey J

e:

ng staff at Cel

ed two

n her boyfriend, Eric Marshall,

stle escap

's what

in the background, but I w

ted. Living in a shoebox apartment, m

rfe

urmured. "And she doesn't e

file. She looked different in it, ti

wouldn

phone. Dialed my

lex at Northbridge Avenue. Top-floor u

s, s

leaned back

nted to walk

d is full of

own t

*

e Day

ve a letter, pol

ge in o

ng reno

eek to

ru

Y

cula

olut

handed her a contract

be beggin

wouldn't

I would writ

*

t Ev

s, watching the city glitter beneath me. Riley's name pulsed

er. Who stared me down and

idn't

didn'

even ask f

ed up t

. "I need a cont

was a

ate?" my lawyer aske

nal. Ex

ne the

he window, voi

Fully furnished unit. Top se

ot

Find a position that fits her résu

ders

gala, and business event as

"Would you like a

affiliations outside of me. No ov

compen

r. Shopping account. Anything

if she

If she walks early, sh

l, this is... intense.

ay. I don't lose, Damon. Especially not to a

have it b

d into the gold-stre

ut. But she d

even

this

ever