he floor-to-ceiling windows of the Hu

heavy fire door and into the lobby. The whee

ake it to th

He wore a bespoke three-piece suit. He slowly lowered his porcelain

stepped direct

Arthur said. His English was clipped, pro

lled out a manila folder. He held it out

the paper. It was a Ch

t made her stomach chur

"Sign this Non-Disclosure Agreement. Take the money. Leave Manhattan today. You will not s

e she was a stray do

heat rushed to her face, burning beneath her fake sc

t reach for the check. She took a step back, h

illion is more than a woman of your background will see in ten lifetim

he asked, her voice

udson will bury you in litigation. You won't see a single cent,

inside Ell

d snatched the thick

ed the top of the document and r

iii

dened in shock.

in. And again. Her hands moved with frantic, furious energy until

w the shredded paper directly

now. Arthur stumbled back, his gold-rimmed glasses slip

money," Ellyn stated. Her English was fla

oesn't need to worry. I am vanishing from his

er. She grabbed her suitcase handle and

at her with a mix of pity and shock. He reache

e heavy doors

The New York autumn rain was pouring down

. Take an umbrella," the butler pleade

Elly

ight into the torrential downpour. The freezing rain soaked through her clothe

pel. His face was purple with rage. He pulled his phone from h

, Baron stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his

. He answered it

ith anger. "She refused the money. She tore up the N

s knuckles turned white. A surge of irr

s playing hard to get. She thinks throw

your ord

his voice devoid of emotion. "Cut off her phone plan. Block her from every Hudso

and tossed the p

rned and swept his arm across the desk, sending a

of Ellyn's dead, empty eyes from last night flas

ing. He pressed th

sistant. "Christine's flight lands next wee

ace. The cheap concealer began to run, but her gri