rived at Per

ong sleeves. Armor disguised as elegance. Her hair was pulle

check his reservation

Welcome. Your

rved walls and the famous garden paintings, to the secluded Chef's Table with its view

was alre

lled to his forearms. The transformation was subtle but significant-less corporate

out her chair with a gesture that

nd it,"

d herself, smoothing her skirt. "The Ti

sumed his seat. "I hope the

uestion escaped before she could ed

moothly. "My employer maintains certain

less, discussing vintages with the ease of someone who had spent consider

d. Or if he was, he was

her reasons for the municipal appointment that morning. Evangelina answered with careful omiss

en and felt her stomach clench. A flood of notifications: three missed calls from "Av

Petr

" she said, already

estured p

er ear and walked toward the wind

particular roughness of alcohol and entitlement.

nal bu

r sister is in crisis, you're handling personal b

s not my sister. And from what I saw, her crisis invol

l. "She offended him at a party. His firm holds twenty mi

ow

know how to handle men like him. Better

blow. Evangelina felt her vision narr

stitute myself for your

r miserable life, consider someone other than yourself. If you don't sh

us

vet Room. Wear something

ne wen

ghts blurring into streaks of gold. She became aware of Barrett be

tu

his butter knife with unnecessary force, the silverware pr

distant in her own ears. "They have s

is pocket and withdrew a handkerchief-linen,

me," h

for dignity but complete in their humiliation

arrett was silent fo

hird wife, fourth bankruptcy, currently un

blinked. "Y

tello operate on leverage. Financial, social... it's all data to them. My firm specializes in risk mitigation. If you'd like, I can have my peop

Evangelina almost laughed. "Neutralize his influenc

ersational, discussing weather or traffic. "It would be si

his posture. For a moment, she saw something else beneath the consultant's polish-somethin

ession. "You're kind to offer. But this

longer. Then he raised his wine g

ish, Mrs.