and hovered jus
tant stung my nose in the stale lawyer's office, and I realized I
attorney said gently, her voice calm
an intended. I softened
ign
in manila folder. I felt nothing at first. Not relief, not sorrow. Just... numbne
the lawyer continued, sliding the papers into a polished leather folder
r
in the air, br
ry morning just to see me smile-hadn't even bothered to show up.
o din
anniver
to
tell myself. He's bui
up wearing red lipstick
rous, and always two inches from Jordan's side during every press event. Th
the cold. The city buzzed around me-horns blaring, distant chatter, the scent of roasted c
worn, mustard-yellow couch in my tiny apartment. The cushions welcomed me like an
sn't much. Bu
bookshelf I built myself, a sink full of dishes I'd get
t okay.
woul
I wasn't "Lila Bennett, divo
buzzed on
You coming or hiding in that c
d at th
ming. Just g
t came in the form of cheap champa
-
ft was
d beams, casting a soft golden glow over a sea of sleek dresses and expensive colognes.
heels. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled back, eyes scanning my
ause that's exactly
e a glass. "
against hers. "
dra
tried to mean it. Bu
y
ross th
like a string had been
is hand, suit tailored like it was designed just for him
help me,
I asked, not
f Moore Industries. Tech mogul. Billionaire. Single. And kno
l. That's a hel
aid, sipping her drink. "Cold, high-maintena
the room. He raised his
uttered, suddenly aware of
voice dropping. "We can bounce. Go
d. "No. I want
into the empty space beside him. He didn't speak at first. Just loo
se things," I said, ordering
velvet and smoke. "But then again,
ved slightl
igned her freedom away and still
"You know
e said, sipping his drink. "But I'm the only
sn't
hat he wa
ing my eyes. "You psychoanalyz
You already decided that part. I'm just he
something low
didn't want to b
ed to
ted t
it all down and
before m
es. No ex
ngers walking
e mistake they co