e penthouse with two assistants, four clothing rails, and the confidence of someone

room, then dismissed her assistants with a glance and closed the

er and opened a slim folder.

t I need to

Good. No waste

had direct financial connections to Derek Cole - investors, sponsors, business partners who'd benefited from his success. Renée didn

d Callum's office this

hy

anted information - about wh

ns. People who knew him would immediately question why he'

stand with Derek," Renée continued. "An

use. "And that you're not a woman

ed back.

d the folder. "That's

she studied Lena, made decisions, moved on. Three dresses landed on the bed. The first was elegant. The second, simi

at

d her. "It's

oo

led - small, brief, approving

movements, his patience. She ignored him, made coffee, opened her laptop. She had work. Not the USB files, not yet. Trusting Callum bec

nnections, everything Derek had done, everything she needed to prove. For years she'd

ed at her screen, moved the laptop slightly - not hiding

brief

of Derek's investo

ve

fif

s Whit

rst introductions her father had made for Derek, one of t

did he

nne

th

es

iled. "He want

o know what

the city. "It chan

do

ack. "Confir

hy

estaurant. I want him t

ha

e almost-smile appeared ag

ng her head. "I want you to

ed on hers. "

te a story and enough important people to spread it. Callum had already been invited before their marriage; now he had t

unfamiliar, two strangers learning how to exist be

ses you added.

ch one. "If feelings

clause pr

ects bot

ou don't kn

imply looked at h

he moment the car stopped, Lena knew the world

er. She stepped into the lights, and the flashes started immediately. She walked forward, chin raised, shoul

expected it. What she didn't expect was how natural it felt: warm, steady, protective without being

, some from both. For years she'd stood beside Derek and watched him take the spotlight. Tonight she stepped into it herself, sp

g her - not casually, not secretly, direc

t the silence had changed. It wasn't

elevator, fourteen floors, no conv

the entrance

oo

ould decide what con

ree

pped. "Callum." He turned. "Y

"I was as

d. "That's what y

e pause before his answer - too long, too careful. That wasn't t