race. He gripped the armrests, his knuckles white, trying to focus on the view outside the window. Chicago shrank below, a sprawl of buildings an

clothes, his toothbrush, and the letter that started it all. Sarah hadn't said much when he told her he was going. She'd just hugged him tight, her eyes worried, and sai

the crowd through the airport, feeling out of place in his worn jacket and jeans. A dr

an Grey,

in a black suit, nodded

ng for him. He sank into the seat with his duffel bag at his feet, and watched as the city came into view. New York was loud, chaotic, al

n the marble floor. The clerk handed him a keycard for a room on the 20th floor. When he got there, he dropped his bag and stared. The room was bigger than his apartment, with a view of the city

omise. "I'm here," he said when

said, her voice tight.

to ask about Victor Langston again, but he

because some rich guy wants to meet me? It sounded crazy. Instead, he ordered a burger from room service and ate it while staring at the city lights. His mind kept dri

kept thinking about the letter, Kline's voice, Sarah's reaction. By

re, but he squared his shoulders and headed out. Kline's office was in a skyscraper downtown, a short cab ride away. The building was all g

a long table and windows overlooking the city. Robert Kline was waiting, a middle-aged

oming," Kline said, his vo

ll me what this is about. Who's Victor La

erprises, a global company with interests in technology, real estate, and energy. He's

hook his head, almost laughing. "No way. My dad's gone. My

Langston is your father. He and your mother, Sarah Grey, were involved

was gone, that he didn't matter. But this? A billionaire CEO? It was in

d and dangerous, even. He didn't want that touching you or your mother. But he's sic

left us. We struggled my whole life, and he w

t Victor is offering you a chance to know

t tight. "Heir? Like, w

gacy. Langston Enterprises is worth billions. Victo

d out below, a world he didn't belong in. "This is c

eet him. Hear him out. He's asked to see you t

is jaw set. "An

can walk away. But you'll al

ng. He needed to see this man, to hear why he'd left, why he'd let Sarah and E

ll he asks. I'll send a

y swallowing him. His father. A billionaire. It didn't feel real. He thought of Sarah, her

eding something familiar. Hey, you free to

st. Sure, call me

deleted it. Yeah, just ne

n, his father. The word felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else's life. He didn