ne in Ethan'

hrough the gaps in

, a dull ache fr

ble up. What had I d

of bed, lookin

my dress from the night

crisp shirt and slacks, lookin

nreadable, his

said, his

"Ethan, I... I'm s

a hand, s

properly. We

ng the door so

g. This was it. The lecture, the di

in his ensuite bath

rs, he was in the ki

't look

id, gesturing to

s clasped tigh

of coffee and place

pression was conflicted, a strange mix of somethin

I shouldn

lame," he cut in. "

ong sip of

said slowly. "Perhaps t

at him,

do you

get marri

the air. I thought

My voice wa

ement. "Yes. It makes sense. You're of age.

ies things? Was that wh

horia washed over me. E

oved wanted

eyes. "Ethan, a

ze steady. "I wouldn't

eck across the co

was made out to

five hundred th

"$500,000? Ethan

For our future. For you to have som

d only nod. This wa

able. He wanted me. He

like proof, a

as the start o

was on a business ca

on the large mahogan

cup of coffee, feeling li

racted, business-like smile, an

ion popped up on his

sest friend and business partner, and a couple

nasty littl

bsorbed in his call,

loser to t

messages were

d finally bagged the big

rriage? What about Jessica? Is this some ki

iversity girlfriend. The one he never talked abou

message, sent ear

get her attention. If she comes back to me, I' ll deal with Sarah. Send her off somewhere with a

n: She' s naive. Thinks t

ome back, what about Sarah?

Maybe a quick annulment. Or I' ll just send

ed from my hand, sha

his eyes sharp. "Sa

dn' t

just tilted an

all of it turned

Scheme

with