pte

ry'

opped heavy

isappeared. No signs. No rans

was the most anyone h

to be watching

. Not merely

ttle. "That's not som

is usually impassive face. "No. But it's some

ng had shifted. Not trust. Not yet. But a l

in a pesky kind of way, but as though he was trying to be there, as though

ft abstract of gold veins and knotted branches. He didn't say a word, b

ke it,"

distu

why it

lways try to find what'

ple lie. Wa

ng. But he di

ed packing up. Nathan had long since d

o the elevator whe

li

should watc

Y: W

n asking questions ab

ou're working for

mach d

he care? They brok

't let go of anything

walls suddenly too close,

ex who moved through elite circles like a queen i

was looking

stion w

planning to do wi

e a vendor invoice or maybe another catalog full of overpriced light fixtures. But the moment

he first wom

No explanati

he edge until the paper creased. I looked around the room the penthouse was quiet, Roman had st

dn't see it. But the words clung to me like static. Who wo

ded to. My hand hovered over the layout sketches, but my mind was now

to soften, to let me in just a little but maybe that was the trap. Maybe he w

o obsess over one obscure message. I had bo

st

e tucked away, expression unreadable. But

ay?" he

too quickly, no

You're pale. And you

adn't eve

im, trying a smile that didn't quite happ

a break. You don't have to

d up straight. "We

then did something surprising he backed dow

ebating the merits of exposed beams over coffered ceilings. Roman was more engaged than normal, opinionate

omething I'd said, a genuine curve of h

o," he said quietly, as if

ought you though

. But you're also. s

turned away, pretending to straighte

n was still standing by the fireplace, sipping on something dark i

propositio

a beat. "What sor

down. "A busine

I stammere

voice low. "I want you to prete

ed. "

eeting or two. Some investors. Having a steady, res

y of New York high society just to make you

at you're getting paid now. I'll hi

a step back. "

strategic. And you've already

is carefully constructed mask, I saw something else a flash of desperatio

e letter, the a

the beginning

ing to uncover what Roma

ut it," I said,

he expected that.

was a time bomb tick

what would explode