dn't go back to the apartment. She directed

, just a heavy wooden door and a bouncer w

," Claire

ck with cigar smoke and the smell

him in the

ged out of the tuxedo shirt into a dark grey cashmere sweater. T

the receipt fro

ached. His eyes raked ove

ranch said. "You trying to

r booth opposite him. She p

," she said. "To sh

e you're expensive," Branc

pulled out a single, folded nap

e return on

numbers and names, written in her elegant, frantic script. An offshore account n

. His eyebrows drew toget

he asked. His voice lost t

flat. It was a plausible lie for a fiancée. "He mu

eral crimes. This is

kno

rst time, there was no mockery in h

ack. "What do you want?

ash the engagemen

The Graduate? Screaming y

during Derrick's speech and announce that

He swirled his

for pennies on the dollar this afternoon. When the party starts, yo

beautiful smile. "You want me

act

n exch

over as CEO. And you get the satisfacti

r. He drummed his f

nt the shar

10% is worth four

ed forward. His face was inches from hers. She co

ind of

will come to you, and I will ask for somethi

was dangerous. Branch was a shadow b

had no

," sh

d out h

oused. He didn't shake her hand. He held

ea

ng on the ta

He tapped the

," he a

ed through the phone. "I know she's

ed at Clair

just discussing... engagement gifts. I t