s. It was a text from a number I didn' t recognize, a reservation confirmation for a private table

to be

hus

biggest merger of my career. He knew I was exhausted. Th

s. Lily would probably be rolling her eyes, pretending to be bored, but secretly thrilled to be at such a fancy

blur of traffic and city lights. I felt a flutter of anticipation, the kind you get in the early days

n a quiet, wood-paneled hallway toward a private suite. The low hum of voices and

heavy oak door, an

ghter s

is colleagues. But my eyes found him instantly. He was standing in the cen

a Lee. His ex-girlf

ble, baby bump. David was beaming down at her, a look of pu

ink and blue. A large banner hung over the fi

me first. Her face, a younger, sharper version of my own, twisted into a sneer of p

ating. My briefcase slipped from my numb fingers and hit t

ud, directed at the woman beside him. "A

nager can perfect. "Dad even got rid of that stupid dog you hated. He said t

g sound that grated on my raw ne

ing her temple. "Besides, Sarah was obs

ial

l ingr

stupi

ter. My Buster. My champion show dog, my shadow, the one warm, uncomplicated l

osterous, insane thought. An evil thought. But looking at my hus

ainty that settled

ting, the one made just for Jessic