e in the penthouse to explore or work on ideas for the bookstore. When he was home, their interactions were brief

retched to the ceiling. One afternoon, as she skimmed through a novel, she heard vo

loser to the door, w

leak," Lucas's voice w

urgent. It's already too clo

ted sharply. "We'll handle i

, but the conversation ended abruptly. A moment later, the doo

at her before hurr

ena

in the doorway, his e

?" he asked, his to

ces," she stammered, fe

eyes narrowing. "This is my bus

id defensively. "But maybe if you were

it looked like he might say something

nge En

ffocating, and she needed to clear her head. Lucas had left hours ago w

ugh the streets of Manhattan. The city was alive with lights

ffee shop, someone

ena

holding a steaming cup of coffee. He was tall and

u?" she asked

re," he said, stepping closer. "I'm Mi

ipped a beat

darkening. Until I found out

" Elena asked, her

one was listening. "Lucas isn't the man he pretends to be

"Why are you te

lose to him," Michael said. "And you seem like a good p

e handed her a card. "If you

crowd, leaving Elena standi

wing U

o the penthouse, Luca

u?" he asked,

aid, brushin

ena

o face him. His expressi

r around alone," he

rms. "I'm not a p

quietly. You

air, heavier than th

e one," she shot back. "Sto

't identify anger, frustration, maybe even regre

e F

rds echoed in her mind, filling her with a sen

lluminated only by the glow of the city lights through the window. She headed s

nized files. But in the bottom drawer, hidden beneath a stack of p

de were photos, documents, and newspaper

pearance Linked to

volved in a major deal with Lucas. Her hands shook as she flipped through the pages, fin

re you

from her hands. Lucas stood in the door

was j

t o

d cold, sending a ch

as,

,* El

. As she hurried down the hall, she could st

the door and leaned against it, her br

devil. And now, she wasn't