y in the back of

y at the murky, gray waters of the East River. Her pulse raced, a

Gigi's Instagram post again. She scro

ulating Gigi. Three of them subtly tagged Cha

focating knot forming in

d Chadwick's private cell phone number. S

ng times. The line f

ice was hushed, clipped, and drip

forced a light, breezy tone. "I have so

board meeting," Chadwick lied immedia

. The dial tone buz

deep, hollow sense of rejection

he opened Instagram one more ti

orary story. It featured a steaming mat

nized the distinctive silver cigar box engraved with the Christensen family crest resting on the corner of the desk. Ri

y. The hairs on her arms stood up. Chadwi

t across from Gigi

o the towering glass facade of th

o her bag. Her hands shook with

herself. She ignored Mitch's

s doors into the bustling corporate lobby. Her

ized the CEO's wife. He hastily stepped

ic VIP card at the restri

isolated in the polished mirrored box.

numbers climb rapidly toward

ftly. The doors slid o

plush, sound-absorbing car

familiar, flirtatious laughter echoi