d at her for

e, the way she could wrap a confession in elegance and make you think it was a compliment. Veronica Babel was no fool

, she w

aid, leaning forward. "So

people-he leaves trails. Credit card receipts, fligh

this

ards haven't been used since last Thursday. No activity on h

he wall clock-still frozen at 9:12-and m

after a pause, he said it p

raised an

cost you," he added

w m

he desk, pretending to think. "

itation. No gasp

pulled out her phone, and typed a few

d. He picked it up, saw the notificat

ceived: $50

s voice cracked just a little wh

ded her hand again. T

m. No rings. No trace of perfume. She smelled fa

a deal,"

nodded.

hing I have. Emails, his phone re

d, suddenly standing strai

the office. "You should fix that clo

he door clos

had changed. No longer dull and heavy-it was

o the window again, l

ica B

billionair

llion in

second chance. Or maybe just another m

e muttered to himself, "Let's just hope

n springs groan under his weight as he stared at

ion Canadian dollars. The kind of sum he'd only seen in cri

iend who finally decided to come home. For a moment, the air in his office

screen, as if touching it too long might make the numbers vanish. But they didn't. They sat t

most afraid to say it aloud,

ce around his life. Just like that, su

door like a fugitive. Office bills? Paid. No more ghosting calls from the electric company or hiding from the internet provider like he was on the run. That loan shark named

even get a new desk chair, one that didn't cry out like a dying animal every time he leaned back. The thought made him chuckle. Ma

n particular, "somewhere warm. Somewhere far." But as

ill echoed in his head like a whisper with sharp edges. Beautiful? Absolutely. Composed? Unnervingly so

. The way she'd perched in the chair across from him like she'd been there a hundred times before.

ld and metallic beneath. She was a woman men chased and regretted. A riddle wrapped

ence-it didn