s in th

the weight of the eyes on her back. The whispering had started the moment she walked in. The usual morning greet

hanged. Everyone

ctly been subtle, slipping out of the building late Friday n

board, strolled over with two cups of coffee.

ed?" she whispered, leanin

ushed. "

CEO's jacket, and Ashley saw you coming out of h

elf time. "Fine. Something happened

is buzzing. And Ashley's face looked

"Ugh. Of cour

terling clear for over a year. She'd once brought him homemade cookies in a pink tin with her phone n

cloud your judgment. Aiden might be hot, but he's still the bo

"I know. But... it'

n eyebrow. "An

. Not in words. But in the way he loo

was organizing her re

Aiden S

ect:

t The Palisade. I'd like you to joi

No smiley fa

e a command. But something in her che

s the room when Emma reached for h

pare

ed slightly under the low lights. The restaurant was stunning sleek, high end, and dripp

eyes sweeping over her slow

she replied, h

ojections and potential client expansions. But as the win

in this company, Emma. Do you have any idea how h

rning. "I thought we were h

"Or maybe I just wanted an

reath

y, her phone buzzed -

spered, stepping

unconscious. He just

eart s

he said, already ru

th her father, younger brother, and sister. It had been her way of reconnec

the floor, pale, lips blue, her

lance!" Emma o

and instinctively dialed the only number

need help," she said breathlessly into

. The call ended. Aid

ound of expensive tir

driver who walked

was

des and knelt beside her father. Without a word, he helped lift the man g

stunned. Her

our driver?

e said shortl

ite, too quiet. Emma paced. Her brother sat,

mma, his hand resti

ave to come,"

wer. Just sque

merged. "He's stable. A sudden dr

agged i

side, the night chill

iver pick you up

me?" she asked,

cause when you needed s

ked, hear

there in the hospital parking lot, under the flickering yellow stre

't push

st hel

e, Emma wasn't afraid

placed Emma's unconscious father gently on the couch and checked his

locked on the screen like it had s

dn't a

turned the

s a photo blurry, zoome

H

H

is of

er it, a

lay games with me? Wa