leather and something citrusy. It was cool, th

thumbs moving with rapid precision. He didn't look at her. He reached into a small cooler between th

k," h

y as dust. She took a sip, the

stopped in front of a glass skysc

tting married," Dawn

. He put his phone away and op

conference room. The walls were glass, overlooking the city. A man with silver ha

eyes flicked over her cheap dress and frizzy hair. He didn't

aid. He pulled out a

mous. She felt like a child

. "Confidentiality agreement. You cannot discuss Mr. Holcomb's business, his

. She picke

aid. "Clause 14. T

t the page. N

ited, "there will be no children produced from this union

ords. It felt so clinical. So invasive. It wasn't just a business term; it was a negation of her, of her body,

devoid of emotion. "I don't want complications. I d

n whispered. She co

ion of the marriage after two years, Ms. Roth w

snapped up.

ough to open your own studio.

er closely. He knew exactly which but

It was a loud, jarring vibr

di

r the bag, pani

He looked at the screen-Aunt Lydia calling-and then he

dead phone

was low, almost intimate. "Sign it, and y

dead phone. Then sh

ne thing she had left of her parents. If she had two millio

ath. She pressed th

n R

. It looked shaky,

ook the pen from her fingers. His hand brushed hers,

rs. Gerhard Holcomb. His sign

the papers away. "Legally, yo

p. "Let's go ge

. Her legs fe

e sky had turned a bruised purple. Heavy clouds we

ch coat. He walked back to Dawn and draped it over her sh

d. "Mrs. Holcomb can't

er in the ches

herself. It felt like a shield. O