er of F

dark circles under her eyes. She chose a steel-grey power suit, the sharp lines and struct

he executive garage, Julian's black Bentley swep

look at her. Instead, he walked around to the passenger side and

rest of Seraphina Beaumont. She wore an elegant white dress that made h

lighting, looking like a power couple on a magazine cover. Se

a polite, neutral smile onto her face a

second, a muscle tightened in his jaw

ured hand. "Hello," she said, her voice sweet as honey. "I'm Serap

wer play, positioning Claire as

her own voice steady and professional. "Claire Hayes. I'm the Brand Director here at Sterlin

lobby was an ordeal. Whispers fo

unior analyst whispered to a colleague

, casting a pitying glance at Claire. "Looks l

ough to be heard, pricked at her skin. She ke

CEO, their conversation low and intimate, completely ignoring her. As t

vator bank, feeling the weight of dozens

mposure was hanging by a thread. She close

wrapped in silver paper. Confused, she walked ov

ited-edition pressing by L.X., her favorite indie artist. Scrawl

Julian only once, months ago, in a pa

o signature, just her name written in the neat, efficie

e a cold stone in her chest,

emem

detail about her. Was this an apology? A sign that

took root. A tiny, fragile glimme

nto her desk drawer. For now, she wouldn't think about the di

hope was a harbinger of a far m