ew's

father's office. Located in one of New York's most exclusive neighborhoods, Mayor Philip's high-rise headquarters towered

cal. Expected. The gates opened without a hitch, and

8 a

oes clicking against the polished pavement with military p

aightened my cufflinks, eyes flicking up at the ticking floor number

Then pushed open

bsidian desk, his face half-shadowed by morning light filtering through floor-to-ceiling wi

latly. "Send the finali

mis

nreadable. "Andrew. Take a seat.

atching him with veiled curiosity. "Morni

and oddly menacing. "Unsh

ferent story. Sharper than ev

. "How is the company doing?

lly. "Profit margins steady. Usua

orner, and poured two glasses of G

e we toasti

ng the liquid before sipp

old news agency?

in debt. Their investors bailed. I'm stepping in with

my eyes. "What kind of d

that never reached h

glass tighten

"You. And S

arp breath. "A

he making. Pretty, too and comes from a r

Certainly not one handed to me like a d

ut legacy. Position. Power. Simon Media has connections we need-public

as I supposed to do with a wife I

e, but the temperatur

aid, slowly. "Consider it dead. And the press? They'll start digging. I'm

ing your own son,

," he said coolly. "And

f he ever existed at all. What stood before me no

y company would hemorrhage. Years of plannin

omplice in this scheme, or just anoth

wealth and comfort," I muttered, "t

. "So, you

ey, setting the glass down wi

easily. "As long as the union binds our

a message at noon. Her contact. Her location. Arrange a meeting.

regret. My pulse hammered in my ears, f

ned silent as the city blurred past.

ah

litical favor? Or was she part of the per

out of my haze. "We're home. Should I

"Clear my schedule.

the door. Poured another dr

noon, my ph

from May

We meet the girl today. Here's her numbe

ere her

her name for

Olivia

my wife by contract. A s

rough my hair, scof

Set a time. Keep

riosity, pride, rage refus

to know what kind of girl agreed to sell

ed her

sed

. Two. A

h

el

he other end w

t was

t like that, t