an asks from the driver's

t dr

traffic withou

at Manhattan blurring

night can't come fast enough. Dan

way she left it sitting on her desk, unansw

n agree to save your pathetic ass, or do I star

d off m

h. "Sir, we've been driving for twenty

o I wan

ho

at's felt like a mausol

n the boardroom-with his eyes following me just as

ar myself say. "D

the rearview mirror b

in the evening. I take a corner tab

me looks when my phone rings. I'd

. My father's l

wice before ans

d you spoke wit

travel

by tomorrow morning." He sighs. "Are you certain about this arrang

hat they

e, you forfeit everything. The company, the prope

scotch. "I

er's will was unconventional. Cruel, even. Y

N

ut

" I signal the bartender for another drink. "I'm doing

ing her dat

ially

ther end. Then:

ther scotch. "Five years ago, I was a cowar

tion, Adrian. That

tell the diff

before he

ns going down.

swore I wouldn't do. Google search

load. My s

ison. Pediatric

of Medicine | Graduated top of his class from Johns Hopkins | Volunte

uccessful. He's

ly making her laugh. Probably being everything

a charity gala, black tie, confident smi

eath

with

She's in a silver dress, and he has his hand on the

porate smile from

owser and orde

Kane?" The b

ing lik

n tro

ds hollow. "Is i

d you exactly what you lost." He wipes down th

t in the wron

now she's with

with some

or just

the diff

ere means you weren't." He shrugs.

h that fo

n unknown number: Hurt her a

friend. The one who held her t

essage. Then I t

ause what else

re you doing this? You think six months of groveling e

No. But maybe

t it. She's not the same girl

dots disappear and don't come back. I pay my

oss the street, wait

e, s

's date is at eight. "Le Bernardin. Pa

don't

ust . . ." I trail off

n feels like walking

th a clear view of the resta

this isn'

's healthy

. Get some rest. Pl

w that

car pulls up.

step

ning. Red dress. Different from the Arm

ver her shoulders. She's wearing it

car pulls u

. He's wearing a charcoal suit and he's smiling

. He says somet

forgotten what her re

his arm. S

rant together, and I coul

an. This is the consequence-watching her be h

voice is gentle.

sounds rough. "

until the restaurant d

*

s I left it this morning.

to the window. Central Park spreads out be

on the counter

s, arranging the perfect grand gesture

pen my night

t ring sits i

. I pick it up, and the inscription catch

chance to read the promise I'd engraved i

even when I bo

upid enough to beli

ept her. That I could have both-my

ose

her fall in love with

zes. Email n

tmore | Subject:

inclair_Courtship_

pen

tially say: Elena Sinclair owns you for s

y constructed legal trap.

ping an email to Harold: Approved

I del

a new document a

en

don't know how to prove I've ch

rying to become the

eone who couldn't look a

ed me w

dead and I finally realized I've

running from h

from the fact that I w

Someone who puts

econd chance. You do

o know-this isn'

Marcus, I'd still be standing in you

rove I'm not th

w you that some p

in you back. I don't ev

ve years wondering what would have

the signi

Ad

hat's pathetic, but I needed to see you happy. Even if

It's too honest.

before I can

nt ring. I should put it back in the drawer. Should a

slip it int

ext six months, I become the ma

uzzes one

e, Adrian. Stalking isn

art s

. Or someo

lready home. C

'll need your rest. Tomorro