round parking garage of a midtown Manhattan high-rise. She pulled the

ate elevator and hit the

ediately recognized her and escorted her down a quiet, minimalist

later, the do

p Armani suit and Christian Louboutin heels. S

coffee across the glass tabl

you have," Cam

photos she took from the safe, sliding the device across the table.

er sharp eyebrows drew together. She tossed th

ore assets-the tech firm, the real estate-are shielded inside an

unded three new subsidiaries during o

ulling up a background check

." Camilla leaned back, folding her arms. "If you file for divorce right now with these cards, you

the soft flesh of her palms. The sheer, crushing weight of h

ing her hands flat on the gl

irrefutable proof of massive financial fraud, hidden asset tra

breath. She forced her

et that?" E

back to that house. You play the perfect, obedient, oblivious w

ught of smiling at him, of letting him touch her

of her father's name

into chips of ice. S

, the bright midday sun stung her eye

ne. She scrolled past the contacts she had used for three years a

ess, brilliant art dealer in

resse

through the speaker. "Did the little house

ck, Julian," Elena sa

n. But the art world moves fast, darling. You've been playing house for three years. My ro

month. You're anchoring it with that dreadful neo-expressionist piece by Vance. It's derivative, Julian. The

ent on the other end of th

ompromising, "you need a centerpiece that actually bleeds. You need 'Rose'. I

n't run on charity, Elena. You want back in? You have to prove

y in my head

reflection in the glass window of Bergdorf G

y glass doors and went stra

creams they had. When the total rang up to ov

rican Express Black Card an

xpensive receipt, the corners of Elena's mo

ey to build her armor. And t

bags, walked out to the cur

tchell estate," sh