shake, a professional courtesy that was over a

canned Chloe from head to toe. "Please, call me Ava. Julian has

ne was dismissive, neatly slotting Chlo

he picked up a heavy, silver picture frame from the corner. It was empty.

with a soft sigh, as if sharing an intimate secret. "I keep telling him this p

ould be pointless. Defending a territory that was nev

contract for the Sterling merger. Since you're

f course. But he's on a very important video conference at

ve access you don't. I know

derstood. I'll be

. She had almost reached it when the p

ened for a moment, then looked up at Chloe, her voice syrupy s

ashed over her. She turned around slowly and

is office. He was wearing only a white dress shirt, the top two buttons undone. Standing impossibly close to him was Av

as unmistaka

, tight and painful, but her expression

motions she couldn't decipher, but his voice was pure ice.

the blue folder she

smile that was both innocent and triumphant.