phone buzzed. It was

After the tenth call, I fi

you want,

... I wasn't thinking." Her voice was soft, apologetic. It was a tone I hadn't heard in

ybe she realized her mistake. Maybe sh

he coffee shop nea

ck coffee, my hands shaking slightl

as wit

ole wouldn't look at me, focusing on stirring

o project an aura of a serious businessman. It di

arted. "I know we got

ro, Luis. Wha

through. Disrupting the logistics industry. But we've hit a small cash flow problem. The

stared

ed thousand dollars, Caleb. It's a seed investment. He'll pay you

clear now. The anniversary dinner, the "new beginnings,

f a million dollars?" I aske

said quickly. "It's an inv

ng directly at her. "And after last

c mask fell away, revealing the cold,

into a threat. "This is important to me. If you can't suppor

ramed as a business transaction. My lo

e affection crumbled into dust. The girl I fell in love with never exis

in front of me, trying to pi