onth

e, and an all-pervasive fog of disappointment. Winter sat on her side of the battered plexiglass, hands tightly f

t just weary he see

up the phone, and Winter mirro

came out as a tentative

response was c

for you. Did you get my letters?" She had

this," he said, his words cu

d, a sting of hurt creeping

be the reason you pu

up to this?" Her co

gestured around the drab room, "..it's never going to chang

r. "You didn't do it," she whispered, despera

e replied, his voice r

ting against the walls c

to talk abou

in her throat. The barriers they faced felt thicker than the

r sounded, he

e, swee

, feeling the warmth of her touch contrast with the cold

verberated down the corridor. Outside, the g

idn't

red a new address one she hadn't mentioned in months

me to

..

minating in a multi-million-dollar contract that would put Reid Enterprises ahead of the curve for the next decade. The whole

n L.A., his tie already loosened and a grin stretching from ear to ear. "Come on, Reid

ark, the CFO of the company, and t

the cuffs of his suit. "You real

." Jones winked. "Let's go. I k

rinking. Trent leaned back, half-listening to the laughter and clinking glasses as the city lights blurred by. His mind wandered not to the de

by the poolside and the gala. Maybe..just m

ere was no sign, no name. Just a man in a black suit at the door and a red

n. "You'll like this one. Elegant. Myste

vet booths. A grand piano in the corner with a woman in a sequined dress humming a sultry ja

silk gloves brought them cocktails, and soon, a soft chime echo

moonlight dancer. She never reveals her name. Never shows her

ht flared

s draped in flowing sheer fabric that shimmered with each step, her face hidde

't watchin

tching he

ere was something hauntingly familiar about her. Not her face-he couldn't see it

slipped off her shoulders for a

de, a delicate black ink flower. He didn't know

ing just out of reach. As he stared, she turned, and in that instant,