r, dodging a waiter and shoving past an elderly aunt. He reached Elena before the

sed, the charm complet

ays, through a service door that swung shut behind

ar and industrial dishwasher detergent. Waiters in white coats rushed past with trays of fil

hoved her into a small alcove near the ice mach

ck his bow tie in the reflection

lly looked at him-and felt a wave of vertigo. This was the man she had made breakfast for t

demanded. He turned on her, hi

ry. Not Let

o leaked

n her hand. The weight of the lens

d her arm

ncer square in the ch

re it hit the floor. The lens inside rolled out, th

The Canon 50mm. The one he'd pointed out in a shop w

cked. A flash of something like

ena

surprised her. Her hands were shaking, but he

You don't understand. This isn't real. It's... it's a merger. The Van

Business? You're marrying her, Spence

darting to the door. "Vanessa knows. She doesn't care. We have an under

hed it back, pressing herself agains

he words tasting like acid.

f sincerity. "Vanessa is... she's furniture. She's a mannequin. I

he rest of his family. "We can make this work, Elena. I can get you a better apartment. Something

ilt. "You want to ma

s... it's a partnership. Once I have access to the t

xcept you," E

carrying a tray of dirty dishes froze, seeing them. S

t was a dry, hollow sound

I would be okay with being your dirty little secret? That I would

drowning. You work yourself to the bone for a dying newspaper. You're constantly worried about y

ke a slap. He made her resilience so

you to save

mother... she holds the purse strings. If I don't do this, she cuts me off. I'd have nothing. I

stating. "You're not protecting us. You're selling

Careful, Elena. You walk out that door, you have nothing. No boyfriend. No access to this world. You think

lt taller, suddenly. "I'd rather sle

exit that led to the a

his hand against the do

voice. "There are paparazzi at the back entrance. If they see you cr

o her pocket and pulled out her phone. She tapped the screen, b

't been, but Spencer didn't know that. "Move, Spencer. Or tomorrow's he

tared at the phone as i

tfully, he lo

g a mistake,"

e," Elena said, "was be

der checking his chest, and sh

alley behind the restaurant. Dumpsters overflowed with discarded lob

her, sealing Spencer inside h

slid down until she was crouching on the damp pavement. She gasped for air,

showed No Service. The thick stone walls

for a second. The window was tinted so dark it looked like a mirror, re

iously. She wouldn't l

engine purring low and menacing, before it