of her closet at sev

a simple navy dress she'd bought for job interviews. It was conservati

it on

o'clock, her buil

guez? Your

nstairs. A sleek black car waited at t

vening,

d never been in anything so luxurious. As they drove through

f a gleaming skyscraper

driver said. "Mr.

evator climbed. The doors opened d

t," she w

, Miss Ro

ng two glasses of wine. He'd changed into a da

"I've never seen

s showed the entire city sparkling below. Modern ar

ma asked, nodding

er a glass. "My mother

about you

ross his face. "She di

sor

He moved toward the wind

lessly in every direction. Central Park

tiful," sh

e view," Alex said. "But I

y n

hing every day, you

file. "Is that what happens

do you

get bore

. "Are you asking if I'm g

we're from different worlds. I

re about an

ryone el

epped closer. "Emma, do you know wh

ook he

on me. You were so flustered, so genuine

that's n

nts something from me. Money, connections, favors. Bu

her nerves. "It was

I don't have anyone who lo

I look

'm just

ackled with tension. Em

ady," Alex s

es flickered between crystal glasses. The meal was perfect,

ncredible,

will be

ave a

lot of staff. Most of

ust be

used

s face. "But yo

admitted.

asy to talk to. He asked about her childhood in Brooklyn, her dreams of work

family?" she as

uilt the company from nothing.

sibli

y still. "I h

ad

car accident f

e table and touched hi

omplicated. We d

s still yo

ce was barely a w

re were rooms she couldn't have imagined, a library with

photographs. Most showed Alex at busine

od next to a man who looked exactly like

," Alex said f

k so muc

re twins. But we couldn't

ething about Marcus's expre

look

t me, at our fath

hy

. "Our father had very high stan

you

ried

photo. The hurt in Alex's

ate," she said.

ta

etween them. Em

ex.

anything. Just... st

nod

more wine, and Emma felt herself relaxing. The threate

ou something

yth

s a curator? Last nigh

d. "Lucky gue

not an

some research on

sea

I like to know who

ighter. "You had

ed. Just... bas

of basic in

"Your employment history, e

Emma stood up. "W

ve one! That'

purse. "You can't just investigat

d too. "In my position,

I'm a nobody

e was fierce. "And that's exa

im. "What aren't

phone rang. He glanced at the

to tak

t you

ex answered

nge from concern to shock to so

d into the pho

another moment

o," he said.

's wr

construction sites." Alex was already mo

ming wi

e was sharp. "

y n

For a moment, she saw somethin

get hurt, Emma. And I can'

river and walked Em

you tomorro

t's really

ator doo

l," he sai

Alex's reaction to that phone call had been ex

he stairs slowly, thinking about the evening. The inves

g for Alexande

ing something.

tment door,

had bee

stood sli

, she pushed it open

Furniture overturned, books scat

r, written in red lip

ng. Stay awa

. Text message from

s you. But next time,

ed the pho