lanc he used for signing billion-dollar contracts. Now, he want

e leather of the sofa squeaked as she shifted,

she asked. Her voice was ste

self a glass of whiskey. The amber liquid swirled in the crystal tum

, his tone bored, as if discussing the weather. "This is ab

tal with her," she sai

to his mouth. "I don't know

n't seen him just now, in the room, but she

ning things. Sign the papers, Claudia. Don't make this diffic

tly against the glass coffee table, the

e screen lit up wit

emailed, she sent assistants. But she n

t up, her hand s

ion, a terrifying contrast to the chaos she was describing. "H

audia's fingers. It hit t

ted. Her fat

a step toward her, his br

table, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. She snatched her purse-the p

ce turned authoritative.

ing around her upper arm. His

at shocked them both. She saw his eyes widen. In three years, she had n

f my way,"

reaction. She turned a

hts and smearing wipers. The rain hammered against

lease don't die. I

e, not caring if it got towed. The sliding doo

s beeping, people shouting. The smell of

ll wearing her sharp grey business suit. Her posture was rigid, her face a mask

lethal tone. "I don't care about protoc

n to her.

but her eyes were hollow. She grabbed Claudi

ooking behind Claudia. "Where

alone," Claud

ream. "Daddy did this because the stock crashed this morning. We are ru

ouldn't tell her. Not now. Not while the

r with a shove of disgust.

eding air. She walked toward the large glass windows that

n she s

quiet hallway that led to the VI

red in her chest, bright and

and against the glass

toward the ER. He d

eted him. Ezequiel shook his hand, looking concerned, urge

and slid do

her father. He wa

e she had called him. Maybe she needed him to fl

alcohol and vomit, and her husband was taking a private

her was total. It was a physi

lding a clipboard. "Are you the daughter? His vitals ar