e red vinyl booths patched with silver duct tape. Claire sat by the window, a chipped white mug of black coffee c

probably cost five figures, his shoes polished to a mirror shine. He paused just inside the door, his upper lip curling slightly as he took in the

t slid into the booth across from her. He placed a heavy, beige, pad

p her coffee mug, took a sip, and set it ba

ers spread wide. He looked like a manager delivering a severance package to a fired empl

ded slowly

e slid out a thick sheaf of legal documents and a

to never speak publicly or privately about your relationship with Mr. Carroll. You will not write a book, give an interview, or post

a check. Claire looked down at the numbers. Five million dollars. Drawn on a private Swiss

ip of the Montauk property to yo

waiting for the tears. He was waiting for the outrage, the bargaining, the pathetic plea

clauses, looking for the trap. She looked at the penalty section: financial ruin if she spoke. She checked for any clauses about

folder. She loo

ve a pen?"

eek Montblanc pen from his inner jacket pocket. He handed it to

last page with a fluid, sharp motion. She initialed the corner of every single page. She moved fast, her strokes precis

ooked up at her, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He carefully put the documen

. She unzipped her backpack and shoved the check and the deed i

led a crumpled dollar bill from her pocket and dropped it

hree seconds. Then she pulled out her phone. She didn't call Axel. She didn't t

n one: Brenda Yates, a top-tier broker known for de

e. "Brenda Yates, h

her voice clear and hard. "I have a prop

chirped, sounding professionally enthusiast

listing it for twenty per

ent? That's a significant loss, Ms. Olsen. The market

avement. "I want cash. Only certified funds. And I want it closed in seven days. N

ly, her tone shifting from friendly

nd walked toward the subway station. She felt lighter. She felt like she had just chewe

he screen. It was a notification from his private banking system. The Montauk property deed had been transferred out of