er 03

d the study, effici

e said over the phone. "Two want design deals, three are pushing for l

ut in front of me, glass and concrete catching the weak Saturday ligh

eal?" I asked, fi

aid. "Three more

oo

scraped the sky. Towers with my name on them. Every deal was another sto

sn't really on

" I told him. "Tak

"Are you

call if I

he desk, rolled my shoulde

e counter, and let the steam rise into my face. The smell was addictive. First sip-hot, b

dn't clear away what

e

eight of her body when she fell into me.

wife.

had been stunning in that gown, untouchable almost. Like art behind

ed slightly, God...I k

introduced us, I made it worse. I kissed her hand. A simple gesture. But her breath ca

ed my hand as if her sk

cognition. Dangerous, because I

. Still full of arrogance. Still wearing his pride like armor. Stil

ght when I raised that glass to

perate for control. A

, he had some

ed on the mug u

? A thief? Or just a man finally

keep pretending to be the perfect husband, perfect smiles, perfect life. I knew the truth. He was the

efore. Why should th

t blind, I knew going after her would mean war. Ther

? I wasn't s

sip of coffee, the

. That

dn't. Like she knew she was slipping and couldn't stop he

g honest, I didn'

pen for me, not in shock, but in surrender. I want

f course. Did t

carved into me, Paul's wife wa

n wasn't if I'd

s onl