es carrying the particular satisfaction of a man who believes he has managed a difficult situ

, spinning her until she shrieked w

d important work. Were

like that

, sorting bricks by color, and she didn't stand when he drew near. He c

y didn't respond, her body remaining l

Last night was... complicated. Brittany had a b

brick and pressed it in

udy her face. "I was worried.

g her features into the mask he expected. "Rea

hed him file away his minor concern and replace it with relief

ause tonight's the Children's Foundation gal

face lighting up. "And I'm coming!

beamed at her. "My little p

neless. Christa remained on the carpet, h

l season, the event that cemented their status as New York's golden couple. She had spent weeks on the planning committee, appr

preparing for h

es Denny had once claimed to love. She pinned her hair up, leaving her neck exposed, a

small frame swallowed by tulle a

er's bow. "You look like a star, b

s of blue, waiting in the foyer for Denny to emerge. He appeared in

oment his voice carried something

e ice cream sculpture, the famous singer who would perform. Christa listened with half her attent

ady to leave when h

quietly for Christa to hear, but she watched his body language shift. Shoulders rising. Hand press

to them, his face rearranged in

rry. I have to h

ha

t pictures of me at the estate last night. The tabloids are running with some disgusting narrative a

's voice on the phone, the performance of accidental intimacy. The photo

g," she said. It

ns team is in crisis mode. I

owly, each word distinct. "You're choosing to miss the gala. The e

e clutched Christa's hand, h

ering through irritation and guilt and somethin

. Family business. The Sanford reputation affects all of us-includi

hoed his justification from t

an so consumed by his own narrative that he had lost the ability t

nd perfectl

thing her daughter's hair,

meeting he can't miss. But you and I are still g

omi

romi

y reaching for his coat, his mind clearl

ually smiled. "For being reasona

closed be

in the sudden silence. She walked to the mirror and studied her reflectio

ed like

zed Cora's hand. "Let's go

glittering web of power and money. She opened a secure messaging app on her laptop, one used by high-level executives and government officials. She scrolled t

n a partner. For three days, she had been a scientist gathering dat

gan to

issolution. The matter involves significant intellectual property assets, complex family trusts,

about to be dismantled. Then, without hesitation, she hit se