. The penthouse was sil

f his key in the door. Now, the silence was

a for New York had been approved. Fr

mail was a thick, cream-colored envelope. It wa

lry caught my eye. It was a pair of cufflinks, designed with intricate architectural de

. And they were so

ting Paris. I could picture the cufflinks on his w

uld be my peace offering. A symb

s and fake smiles. I felt out of place,

ie T

ice dripping with counterfeit sympathy. "I'm so glad to see you're okay. I want you

nd I, we're just friends. I h

said, my voice low. "Those deepfake pictures of you... they looked surp

for a half-second. "I don't k

id, before turning my

up for bidding. I

ousand," the au

up across the

d and fifty

aised my paddle again.

smiled sweetly at me and raised h

, "Adrian gave me his credit

more than a bidding war;

, powerful phrase used in the most cutthroat auctions, indicating she would pay dou

knuckles white. She had won. The cuffli

, I found her. I

. Sell them to me. I'll p

ked, a cruel curiosity in her eyes. "Ar

. Let her think

er eyes. "I'll give them to you. But

ha

foot, and climb the thousand steps to the top on your knees.

g, pointless task d

ll fresh. My knees were raw, my body ached. But I looked a

," I

a fresh wave of pain. The stone was cold and unf

ed his name. Kellen. Kellen. Kellen. His name wa

pain. I got the talisman, my hands shaking. As I staggere