l, her breathing even and slow, faking a deep sleep she was far from feeling. She listened to the familiar sounds o

e. She felt the weight of his gaze but didn't flinch. Aft

ront door locking echoe

sharp, crystalline clarity. She threw back the duvet, her bare feet silen

ays claimed he needed absolute privacy for h

side a large, antique vase on a display shelf. Her fingers found

ey slid into the lock with a s

coffee. She went straight to the massive walnut d

Ava's birthday. 081

y folder related to finances was protected

vanity, his predictable nature. She spun the dials to his own birth date. Nothing. She tried the date they bought the apartment. Still locked. Her hands

The logo at the top of the page made her blood run co

tatements. The recipient's name was

fer, a staggering sum, had been made one week

This was a long con. A meticulously planned operation to defraud her. Her

took out her phone, photographing every single page

p-beep of the front door k

as b

er, fumbled with the lock, and slammed it shut. She closed the laptop and grabbed a

s stood there, his expression ins

you doin

one. "Just looking for something to read. I was

ng for any sign of disturbance. He saw nothin

lked to the desk, opened a different drawer, and pulled

said, her voice s

front door clicked shut for the second time, her legs gave out. She slid down

lcony, her phone already in her hand. Sh

rd thing. "It's Dallas. He's moving my trust fund money of

ther end. "I'm on it. I'll call my contac

an skyline, at the towers of glass and steel g

office door, and carefully placed it back in the bottom o

ngle cent. She would