the curtains, bright and cheerful, pretending

she tied his tie. It was a Windsor knot. Perfect. S

e said. The lie tasted

late tonight. Business dinner at

ers-only establishment, exclusiv

smoothing his lapel. "Good

a dry, perfunctory peck. "

l

nd and opened her laptop. She didn't log into her social media. She logged into the bank accoun

reservation at T

h 4. Two

alculating rage. But she couldn't let it show. Not yet. If she confronted him now, he would

ked. She chose an nondescript black dress, something that would blend into th

the valet. She parked down the stree

ing a hundred-dollar bill to the hostess she h

an whispered, feigning a tremor in

ly and pointed toward the VIP se

mezzanine that overlooked the semi-private boot

the shadows,

here

a velvet sofa. But h

e had long blonde hair that cascaded down her back. She was w

ett S

. The ambitious daughter of the Sharp empire

ends of Scarlett's hair. His friends-men Vivian had hosted at dinner parties, m

Julian?" one of them jee

ian? She's home knitting or whatever she d

im, resting her head on his should

r chest. It wasn't heartbreak. It

he metal dug into her palm

hands shook, but she steadied

co

high. The kiss on the neck. The mocker

tt squealed at something one of the men sai

to the mezzanine. "She's Garrett Sharp's daughter. She's..

sleep with?"

He just smirked and t

rding. It was enough. I

there and tear them apart. But she was Vivian

make a sound. She slipped out the side door, past t

didn't start the engine immediately. She just sat t

She let herself cry for exactly five minutes. Sh

her makeup in the rearview

, pretending to be asleep. She listened to him brush his t

e was safe in her ignorance.

as w