pened the door,

eather sofa. She had her shoes o

ng her skirt. "Cressie! I didn

sat down, ignoring the awkwardnes

ained s

said, placing a fresh copy (sh

l have payroll add a severance

," Cress

heels clicking on the glass floor. "Everyone needs a littl

rsized Birkin bag. She pul

u," Jolie beamed. "I felt so bad about th

ognized the clasp immediately. The silver rose. It was the Winters family necklace. Her mother's necklac

down a family heirloom, bought it with Banks m

nd them at an estate sale. I

lie said, reaching

ie said, st

essed. She lunged forward, trying to c

ressie pushed

Jolie was wearing six-inch

ed. She grabbed Cressie

oth we

ip. Her side slammed into

lips. Pain radiated through he

e pearls scattering across the

the desk in a second. He knelt

, clutching her ankle. "She pushed

e blazing. "Are you insane?" he shouted

sked if she was okay. He hadn't asked about the baby. The pai

attered on the floor. One h

he rubbed it agains

The Winters pearls were

hadn't bought the real necklace. She had bought a r

ing the chair for support. Sh

fake," s

snapped, helping

hollow plastic sound. "It's a knockoff of my mother's necklace. High-end costume j

Her tears sto

at the pearl. H

?" he

Jolie stammered, her face turni

ressie said, her voice ice cold

e a woman who brings you fake pearls ov

gned resignation f

e, Ells

ut her head was high. She needed a docto

ht in the cuff of her trousers. She took it out

ought. Just

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