Married to the man who ruined me.

came at

n almost did

the vibration sharp in the quiet room. She glanced

n unknow

back to h

verdue, a lawyer's invoice she didn't remember agreeing to, her mother's medical bills. Every number felt hea

again, and Ariell

d go away. Most things did event

d buzz d

up the phon

kward kind, not static, but t

ine st

t last. Calm, professional, and c

his?" Ari

tive from Bla

seemed

ediately. "You hav

eplied. "And this ca

und the phone. "I don't d

our position." Th

" the voice continued smooth

rtbeat

concern," Ariella said, tho

e the man on the other end w

Quinn," he said. "And her accou

st the chair scraped l

did yo

ion tomorrow," the man replie

not c

want to r

aid

use, this

voice said evenly, "the situ

dry. "Are you

inn. I'm in

lla stared at her phone long

mes in the wo

The company that had swallowed smaller firms whole. The name that surfaced in every article that mentioned the col

t sleep t

ked exactly like it

loomed. Ariella stood across the street for a long moment, staring

Marble floors, and muted colors. People moving with purpose, not curiosity. She

d after a quick glance at the scr

e was led to the elevator.

l sound, and the numbers climbed f

ty-f

ty-

y-ei

or opened, the

the corridor, its doors alrea

iling windows framed the city below like something owned, no

o her, hands in his pockets

before he turned. It

ely. He simply stood there, unbothered by her presence,

is gaze settled on her sh

ame,"

r chin. "You ment

pression giving nothing away. Then he walked

problem," he

tened. "What k

esn't disappear w

n the desk between the

didn't t

this?"

olut

ort, humorless l

ed steady. "Whether

"Your company de

he said

ssion st

tinued, voice shaking. "You made peo

," Lucien replied. "Damage

get to de

ned slightly.

between them, heav

he didn't want to open it. Didn't want to

ou want?" she

dying her like a chess

cooper

spiked. "D

ere I can p

n, sharper this

s coming,"

folder, and the paper inside f

e asked, not

't answer i

voice was low. It

formation you'

a swal

d inside that folder, she knew on

t her phone rang at 9:47 p.m, and nothing w