bluffing

e a trapped bird. Sarah. My assistant. The woman I had trusted with my schedule, my fli

y face and his smile wid

ument. "Doctor's letterhead. Your name. Your due date. Sarah sent

tear it into pieces. But what was the point? He

said. "You knew I

of Vancourt to walk out of that elevator. That part surprised me. But I'm not an idiot, Elena. T

still holding his arms. H

m go,"

s hesitat

him

htened his suit and brushed off his sleeves like

stening to me. That's how this wor

tor's records. He had Sarah. He could file for custody, drag my name through every court in the city, put my face on every gossip blog and

ight. He

y if I

's talk. Not here. M

h surprise. He hadn't expec

e way,"

her, and the space between us felt like it was full of broken glass. I didn

neat. Her chair was pushed in. The little succulent pl

She was smart eno

t at the city. "Nice view. You always did

at do you want, Julian? S

bought, you restore my investors, and you make a public statement that Sterlin

the b

t a child complicating my life. I'll si

child, our actual human child, was just a bargain

isgusting

on purpose to trap me," he said

trapped you! I found out after the divorce! I didn't tell you because

. Just a little

it?" he asked

stepmother to my child. Because I would rather raise this baby alone in a o

hit the side of his face. For a second, he looked tired. O

speech. It doesn't change an

ul

or and stopped with his hand on the handle. "And Elena? Fire Sarah. She's b

l

I picked up my phone and called a nu

ang

p voice said. "It's been three days.

I said. "And thi

who solved problems with briefcases and silence. He didn't a

n," h

s. I need proof that the letter Julian Sterling h

"That's not a fa

kno

the t

x-hus

"I always liked you, kid. Your fathe

d at the door Julia

t he had no idea what

zed. A text from

husband isn't the only one who kno

ra

round the phone. Th

just be