the gap in the heavy velvet curtains, a laser

d her eyes. For a second, she didn't know where she was. The sheets w

her. The club. The

r chest. She was naked. Her body ache

as ajar. She heard

d slept with a stranger. She, Elisa Hamilton, the woman who planned

to lea

floor, still damp. She pulled them on, her fingers fumbling

urse, her eyes lande

And next to them, an ashtray with a single

The diamond ring glittered,

ing her. She pulled the ring off her finger. It slid

the diamond facing up. A phallic, ridiculous displ

ght bitterly. For

She took the stairs down one flight to the main bank

thouse, the sho

around his hips. Steam curled off his broad shoulders. He

ungry? I c

The sheets were tangled, a ch

e nightstand. H

n his fingers. The platinum band w

aped his lips. "W

n the dresser. He glanced a

liding his thumb across t

d, too cheerful. "I heard you were bac

llagher sat on the edge of the

d. "I want you to meet Elisa prope

ked at the small smear of blood on t

is voice flat, uninterested.

to meet her. She's g

," Gallag

d this week? The board is as

"We have a lot to discuss, C

esome. I'l

ne wen

the bed. He looked at the bloo

nd the ring, the diamon

e hotel phone a

," a voic

surveillance footage from the lobby between midn

olicy s

ve to," Gallagher said c

hun