und echoing through his office. His eyes were bloodshot, fixe

ing. "Jairo, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have gone to the offi

room and pulled her into his arms. "It's not your fault, baby. Denice is just throwing a tantrum. A

ut his phone and tried Denice's numbe

first time. Without Denice, the Phoenix project was just a pile of useles

er back. He had

ed his jeweler to procure their latest limited-edition necklace.

arrived at the priva

looking Central Park. A well-dressed man stood and g

r phone screen lit up with a text from an

ed. He hadn't seemed to notice. Denice understood. Everyt

er apartment's smart intercom. She answered it, and Jairo's face

. "Denice, baby, can you open the door? Let's

rmance with a blank face

er phone screen toward Vincent, making

d, but Denice noticed his fingers tap

voice cold. "Jairo, I don't think

"I know I was wrong, but you can't just destroy the P

ed her lips. "It was my work. You we

hung

ed in. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, and his deep gray eyes were like a fr

ly stood straight

t had just unfolded and spoke directly to her, his voice

The man's aura was even more

phone rang again, shrill a

r raised a hand, a gesture inviting her to a

nd. She answered the call and

be impulsive! You're destroying your own legacy along with m

yes swept over the caller ID-'Jairo'-before he held it to his mouth, his voice calm and lev

nto silence for a s

er of his mouth tilted in a barely perce

act, he ended the call and, with a

the man before her. His actions were f

e most trivial of tasks. "Now," he said, his voice dropping