t of SoHo, Jared was sweating t

t his reclaimed-oak desk, rattling the espresso cups. "Third

e tech. The social circles are talking. Ever since your messy public spat with

She was the one stalking me! I only slept with her to get her father's introduction t

with a high-priority notification. He glanced at the

, his voice trembling. "It's Beau

to Manhattan's ultra-wealthy elite. If

speaker. "Mr. Be

n behalf of an anonymous private family office. They've been reviewing Jared's startup pitch. They like the m

. It was enough to clear his debts, buy a pentho

mered, his heart hammering against his ribs.

is an old-school gentleman who believes heavily in public character. He doesn't invest in me

red. "Justine? But

to see a reconciliation. A public, high-profile demonstration that you and Miss Estes are back on intimate terms. A romantic dinner, a hotel stay, a pu

ic

ne wen

on dollars... to spend one night with a girl who had spent

rd! That crazy girl is obsessed with you! You snap

nning a comb through his hair, his vani

Estes conservatory, Justine was dee

vilian firewalls of the New York State Department of Health, tunneling s

igating her mo

head-on collision on the Long Island Expressway five years a

pping away layers of digital redactions. Then, she

ed into chips

ighway. She had arrived at St

under a black-budget corporate requisition had transferred

with a single, chilling corpora

thought, her jaw clenching with leth

by the shrill sound of high heels clickin

riumph, holding up her smartphone like a weapon. B

stine's face. "Jared just posted his launch party photos! He's dating Victoria, t

reen. She looked past Julissa, her eyes holl

d barking?" Just

yed stare. Before she could scream another insult, Jus

age lit up

g about you all night. I miss you. Please,

r's name and choked on her breath

ooked up at her stepsister, her lips