mise was enough to build a life on. Tonight, I
ing New York skyline. I wore a simple black dress I had designed and sewn myself, the fabric cool against my skin. In my purse, a s
waiting for
practiced pity, their eyes sliding past my fixed smile. I kept my back stra
he a
ady on his phone, a sleek black rectangle pressed to his ear. He waved
andle it. I don't
furrowed with irritation. He didn't look at me.
. Before I could speak, he slid a lavish, dark blue jewelry box a
flat. "I need you to give t
me like a p
an unnerving lack of emotion. "This should smooth things ov
ame out. The gift in my purse s
meanor shifted. The hard lines of his face softened into something
Are you
chair scraping
pulled a black credit card from his wallet and threw it on the tabl
n he wa
h a necklace for another woman, a bill for a dinner we never a