nt increase in sales over the next two years," Miles Carter s

lest building in Milan, was silent except for the soft hum of the air con

ck in her chair, fing

he sketches were bold, the margins were smart, and

curved her lips. "All of you did fantastic work. We're moving fo

raped. Someone whooped. Mile

" they chorused, b

. She watched them go, and for one quiet moment, s

uilt, she though

-

wn in her office when

ide, her cheeks flushed, a tablet clutched to

en. "Take a breath

contract! They chose us as their exclusi

ore? The Whitmore G

's a multimillion-dollar deal, Ma'am. The biggest in our history. A

Yo

t Eve like

ung up on recruiters who mentioned it. She had turned down invit

deal of her career

s smile faded.

r and forced a laugh. "Yes.

beginning, isn't it? You're not the same person who le

fingers. At the empty space on her ring fi

said softly

-

ed that nigh

nowhere to go. She had wandered the streets of New York in the cold, past mi

ch if she hadn't stumbled int

Eve Ha

in six years. Lily was in the city on a business trip, and she took one loo

ad said, taking the suitcase o

tence had sa

long as she needed. When Eve was ready, Lily introduced her to an old friend at a

ght the light. The way it could be shaped

every offer of help she didn't earn. And four years later, with a

most celebrated gold d

ad ever created wasn't a

-

om

and a small figure barreled

d. She opened her arms j

ling, what are

p in all directions and a smear of chocolate on his chin. He had the sharpest eyes

s. "I'm so sorry, Signora. He heard you were busy and said he need

d the top of his head.

with the seriousness of a tiny judge. "W

Mommy has to travel for work. I'

rumpled. "New Yo

business trip. You'll stay h

ping her hands in both of his. "I want

cheek to stop from laughin

e stuck out his bottom lip and added in a very wounded voice, "Beside

, pleading eyes, and she

over her. One look, and her

ghed. "You win

hrew his arms a

y and looked up at No

New York," she said

-

JFK in the pale lig

elt it all rush back. The smell of the air. The rhythm of

yself I'd ne

n who had built an empire with her own hands. She wore a tailored white suit and

erself. I'm Eve Hartley, CEO of Aurelia Go

my, look!" He pointed excitedly at

wn at him. "I

been alone, shattered, and carrying a secret that was barely more than a heartbeat.

at his small, serious face. You are t

ught for several second

tions ha

Always asking why this and h

ooked

nd was

ndo

th

ribs. She spun in a full circl

r. A family in matching T-shirt

e. He was right

hands went cold. Her breath came too f

hispered. "

r shoulder, her voice cracking. "Please, please help me. I've los

shaking as she pulled up a picture. The offic

y calm. We'

wait. Landon was her world. Her heart. Th

e

e until her throat burned. Through the food court. Past the gat

se, just let

rounded the last corner, where a wall of

here

s nearly

hole, staring at the planes with his

elief flooded her so fast th

she s

he wasn'

He had crouched down to the boy's height and was speaking q

lowly rose t

e of that jaw. She had memorized it in

turned h

hers across

ole world

ca