l thing now, a tight knot in his chest that made it hard to breathe. H

istake, the thing he could use to crush this rebellion. She c

eyes burning. He skipped the financ

s for

thinking he had misread the

rences and Spousal F

e paper crinkled in

ispered the word.

him. She was i

uldn't perform, but because he wouldn't. He had withheld himself as a form of loyalty to Scar

he nightstand and hurled it against the opposite wall. It shattered

h Avenue, the sun was br

trench coat anymore. It was draped over her arm. She was wearing a simp

smile that could stop traffic cam

Upper East Side shoppers. She threw her arms around Evelyn,

forting scent of loyalty. She pulled away and smiled. She reached up an

d the glasses; they were non-prescription, a prop she had adopted to l

ot. I forgot how gorgeous you are without those thin

d. It felt ru

the Chanel display. Are we burning throu

retive smile playing on her lips. N

vie, you need resources! You can'

ack card. It wasn't an Amex. It was issued by a private Swis

he Oracle's accounts have been dormant f

ed grin. Oh. Oh, right. I always forget you're s

s, Sophie said, linking her a

of Chanel. The air conditioning was

For three years, she had worn what she

dress. It was emerald green, silk, wit

er, looking skeptical of Evely

n said. And bring me the

e silk clung to her curves like a second skin. The green made

dropped slightly. It...

said. She handed over

ng at the nameless card. I'm n

elyn said

Appr

lwind. Jimmy Choo. Pra

yn sat in the chair. Cut

ist asked, holding

of

hair spun around, Evelyn looked at herself. Her hair was now a sleek, s

plied a coat of bold

The mouse was gone. The woman

ance Global, the atmo

were discussing the quarterly projections. Alexander was staring at a gra

up on the table, rema

it. No no

y card triggered alerts on his phone for e

Surely she needed to eat? T

d his ba

d Ending in 4098:

: 3 days ago. Wh

spending

asn't using his money, how was she surviving? Did

he not need

as intrusive

ared his throat. Regar

pped his head

are. If she wanted to starve on the streets of Manhattan to prov

ouldn't shake the image of her col