te's service drive. She tossed it into the metal dumps

emories, gone in

eles skyline glittered beyond the tall arch

center of the sp

harp and clear as she held a glass of sparkling water. She was surr

tbook, Alex," Marcus, a veteran appellate partner, said with genuine admir

holding them to the terms they signed," Al

italists and private equity directors, his laughter loud and self-assured. N

champagne began to press against Alex's temples. The

on a passing waiter's tray and walked toward the quiet,

ded a minute

t, sickeningly familiar giggle drifted through t

mi-secluded

her tracks on the p

us back here, they'll think I'm distr

g closer to the curtain, she

hit her like a sp

a low-cut crimson silk dress, her bare shoulde

ntleness Alex hadn't seen from him in years, he took a small spoonf

ing Hollie swallow the mousse with a s

, running her manicured finger do

e used his thumb to wipe a tiny trace of

lvet curtain as a hot, stinging wav

red her a glass of water when she worked until 3:00 AM on his corporate contra

a girl whose greatest skill

ned dry. She was past crying. Whatever warmth she had

r phone, and tapped the voice recorder app. She he

murmurs and breathless whispers ripp

recording straight to her enc

kward, ready to leave th

heel clipped the edge of the carved

e, the giggling

Basil snapped from

iked, but her h

essly across the floor. Carrying her shoes in one hand, she slipped like a shadow d

s near the bar, smoothed the fabric of her s

rm approached. "Alex? Are you

ht," Alex replied smoothly, forci

le doors to the corrido

the room. Hollie followed half a step behind him, clutching a leat

oss the crowd. They lo

ng right in front of Alex. He used his tall frame to wall her off

" Basil asked quietly, a

the crystal stem of her champagne f

her tone light and breezy. "Why, Basil? I