O

n reservations at some fancy place where the menu doesn't have prices and th

Manhattan-checking my reflection in the window for the third time. My black dress was simple

video call, chocolate s

en made cookies

o lived next door and treated Alex like her own grandson. "He

him a kiss. "Be good for Mrs. Chen,

coming h

d. "What did yo

denly too knowing for a three-year-old. "Th

o kids just..

ut it later, ok

late. Alex had never asked about his father before. Never seemed to

Bl

a navy suit, looking like he'd stepped out of

something in his voice I didn't understand. Nerv

moothed my dress down, suddenly self-con

excellen

mpensating fo

hot up, and then he actually smiled. Not that cold business smile

Ms Blake. I r

e years ago, I'd been brave enough to match his wit word for word

rsations. The kind of place where people made deals that chan

f the city lights. Erin held my chair out like a per

ldn't afford, "corporate rebranding. Tell me about t

golden eyes. Marrock Industries has grown rapidly over the past decade. Mu

tered

ifferent logos, color schemes, and messaging. It looks

ohesive brand story. Customers don't know w

expression-surprise? "Most consultan

d my wine, trying to ignore how his gaze

arketing materials, corporate communications. Eve

s ambi

small projec

w in my belly. This was dangerous territory. Bu

ocating to

ly?" His voice went cold aga

use

boration. Face-to-face meetings. Y

Marrock, I have a three-year-old son. I can't just

s relocate for work opp

temper rise. "Single mothers also have res

ghten

as never been away from me for more than a few hours. You wa

eaned forward, his voice dropping low. "This contract could set yo

sn't eve

eone who's never

u don't know anything abo

reading something there. "You fled Seattle three years ago. Pregnant, alo

cold. "How do

specially when I'm considering

hat? My work or

appar

tiny sculpture of food that probably had a F

vestiga

te everyone

e more than a b

food with surgical precision. When he looked

carefully. "Alex. He

arted pound

in Por

ord came out

his f

on, chin lifted in defia

choi

ce. He di

ckground static. Everything narrowed to this moment, thi

?" Erin's voice was bar

stare at the man sitting across from me-the fat

ather's eyes,

nched. "Golden

. The

years of secrets and lies and a little boy who'd

think we need to have a

he waiter. "C

haven't

te." His voice was rough now, all bus

. I'm not going a

ous flicker in those golden eyes. Something that made my b

son. M

photograph. One I'd never seen before. And the

art s

did you g

calm and lethal, as though the

ly, or I'll