as back at Sterling

ee, but as a tem

pulled som

ton appeal," she'd explained. "It's only for a few weeks. G

the paralegal pool, far fro

ractions brief

knowledge. Most people wer

mention

ighting was

e industrial-sized print

d open, and they walked

mething she said, his

ite, her blonde hair shimmerin

power couple from

y constructed wall around my e

mile faltered fo

st me, as if I were p

gaze. A small, triumphant

nto Ethan, p

randing. He was h

e printer, my hands

f a crucial pre-trial confere

pson was

tails later, her voi

onal emergency' was that Seraphina wanted to go shoe shopping. Sho

s irate. Thre

s cha

ed, Seraphina clinging to his arm, a dozen designer

n apologize t

out land

directly confront his star partner's glari

ton account from before and was on-site, I was disp

ay, Hayes," Thompson had grumbled.

politely but firmly lect

responsibility, for the fir

en again, knowing it was a

, taking the blame

ke a huma

Blake decided she need

rently,

the firm's kit

aid, her voice syrupy s

ed, keeping my

efficient. I need some errand

ded me

stom-ordered dog collar from

ve restaurants because she "hadn't deci

hop on Lexington. Make sure they're freshly cut.

of perfectly white t

fer. But I was a contractor

k the

ment was br

rrand was t

The flowers were exq

e'd given Seraphina, who'd then passed to m

ped, fell. The

a small, antique silver locke

d under a d

o had apparently followed me or tim

t woman stole my

ed direct

rushed over. Other

ything!" I protest

g dramatically. "It was on the counter, and she

against my ribs.

looked at me. "Ma'am,

pended my purse

race

!" Seraphina cried.

potted" something glintin

forward, pi

celet, undeniably expensive

imed, holding it a

e manager. "I wa

as two security gua

ed to him, fei

ied to steal my bracele

expression unreadable, then

ell is going on?"

I said, my voice shaking.

How can you say that? Afte

eraphina, comforting her.

e manager, his tone clipped. "My fiancée is

hit me harder th

ing it. To the

on me, "Sterling, Cromwell & Finch does not tol

nager. "We'll handl

stepped back, but

op was staring at

rm, Mr. Thomps

beside him, Seraphina lo

e... incident... and Ms. Blake's distress, your contra

nything!" I pleade

n has vouched for Ms. Blake's versio

rked," he continued. "But I expect you

han. He wouldn

her. Or, more likely, he d

d the problem

dy on life support, was now

ft, even without char

ladies' room, splashin

nger and injustice

me a tissue. "It's bullshit, Maya. E

I added bitter

said fiercely. "Blinded

small comfort in a

rds of sympathy as I packed the few ite

. But they were pow

n Sterling, or his prec

h for the second, and undoubtedly final, tim

an I thoug

stance, had shown flashes of brillian

me late into the night, treating me, for th

as that

er really

wn desires onto a charismati

e the worst of me, so easily manip

ndifferent

ly, definitivel