xpensive cologne, leather chairs, and the subtle t

g against the marble floor. At the long oak table sat the partners

r smiles, calm and gracious. She had learned early in her career that

seat. Bella settled into her chair, making sure to hide any signs of nervousness,

d, glancing at a thick file. Bella noticed a hint of a smirk - as if

," she rep

a stir, Bella. Mostly good. The firm is pleased. However," - he paused, letting t

flickered within her. Aligned? She had won every sin

ship," Dennings finally annou

a bl

herself, immediately wishing she could take

w of the others smiled - ge

ve this level of success so quickly. You're a power

ould have made her feel a sense of accomplishment

ure

a compliment; it fe

ipping back into automatic m

interjected, sliding a thick envelope across the table to

on the envelope but re

near conspiratorial whisper, "as you advance... you'll

la's stomach - a quie

hen the time is right," he

akes and congratulations exchanged in clipped tones. Bella ex

-

car shone across the street, but she didn't approach it right away. Inst

ambiguous promises. The invisib

a long, sh

letter spoke of? Or was it

self, shaking her head. "What on ea

in her pocket - a

rve it, Superlawyer. Also, we're definitely gettin

ion ease a bit. Leave it to Julian to keep her grounded

ckly ty

ne it is. Save me

off the wall, adjusted her jac

atever doors were opening behind t

oe. And she never,

-

ighing on Bella's shoulders. Or maybe it was the way the city appeared that evening

the thickening fog. Bella lightly tapped the steering wheel, her thoughts already halfway

uzzed in th

wn Ca

te Nu

r instincts immed

a firm line. She wasn't in the mood for

ang

r. Same pe

up and pressed accept, switching it to s

oice was cauti

only silence - so long

ow and hurried,

s rushed through that little device -

e wheel so hard her

only listened, swallowing against the

ozen for a heartbeat longer, the

she m

g toward home, her mind racing

he wall as Bella rushed inside, bare

t scent of Julian's cooking still hanging in the ai

other changing out

loset and started throwing things i

ical, as if she were afraid she

't home yet

t want to

ven know

t just leave witho

a battered notepad and a pen, and scribble

-

Jul

- don't f

, and I need to g

rmanent. Ju

t die and make sure you eat

ll when

some of that terrible wi

B

-

ink magnet shaped like a cartoon cat - a stupid souvenir Ju

agnet, the messy scrawl of her note

't have time

she dialed her secretary's number as she

up on the

cretary chirped, br

leave for me, starting tomorrow. Personal reasons. Te

of hesi

rse. Is every

rt hammering, then force

for a break. T

re Monica could

her father's numbe

g only

e his gruff,

wallowing hard. "I heard

nspoken things ha

id. "Meet me at

lla whispered,

r keys, and without another glance at the quiet

gain as she drove, but th

shifting, pulling her into something bigger, s