without James

ays like a well-oiled machine. She rose at six, arrived at work by eight, and poured

se sh

in, no more powerful gaze hovering near the conference room door, no soft glance

was do

e lights dimmed and her apartme

Every night.

n made coffee. But the calls came like clockwork-his voice the o

ou eat

es

sleepin

rel

ring my sh

d la

ls like yo

s away, the more rea

cracks star

n the Fo

nd week, Agnes began n

sations grew shorter. His laughter dimmed. When

. I'll tell you

ould be th

ed it off. Jet lag.

came th

late Friday evening, while s

mething you're not go

he empty stairwell a

ered on the

n. "But someone at Denvill

Agnes's ches

restaurant with

ce was immedi

d quickly. "Business dinner. Casual ex

the post m

ethebo

k seen leaving La Rue

achelor back

eed, London

o wasn't

into a black car. The woman besi

cl

oubt

't sleep t

ed through eve

ust a co

a d

coinc

the scar from Matthew's bet

rning, she cav

idn't p

in eighteen days, h

onfro

ang her Sund

"I'm sorry I missed last night. Got p

" she in

pa

ou saw t

more than t

ence. "It wasn't wh

ing her apartment.

th two VPs and their spouses. The others left ea

"The one that made it look lik

efensive. "Are we

se I know how this game wo

't lie

ered. "You just

ence fell b

s finally admitted. "But I didn't

ress," she said, quiete

ked. "I didn't che

red. "But I felt lik

Space,

lk for three d

time since James left, there was no call at night.

thoughts. H

ng storm of

her with coffee dates, st

thing

this wasn't just

as f

t hers-

she sa

pulli

o hur

protect

close... of not knowing how t

st maybe... A

y That Mea

was about to turn off her phone

me

d, breath s

H

ded exh

ing work and us separate would make it easier. Safer. Bu

aid n

ictate my dec

osed h

oming the man your ex was. Of proving everyone

cked. "Then stop

e said. "I'm

th caugh

led my meetings. I nee

es filling. "I

issed y

pa

gn

es

m choosing you. Every da

"Then I'll ch

e A

, disheveled, tired, and smi

ike a man coming home-no

ed it, she didn

s around him and let the

r pr

wasn't abou

about s

n you we