Chapter Eighteen

The sound of Christopher's voice wakes me.

The dawn is coming, but it's still dark outside. The sound of the ocean against the pillars below us remains steady. There are no birds or animals moving yet. It's still dark, with just the gray image of light soon to come.

I sit up in bed, unsure of where I am. I look around, getting my bearings. The bed next to me is empty and cool to the touch. I'm not sure how long Christopher has been gone. I look around, trying to figure out what woke me.

I hear Christopher in the next room. Yellow light gleams from under the door. It's bright and artificial looking against the gray of dawn in the bedroom.

“No, the merger takes precedence. I don't care what it costs, get their lawyers in line. This is going forward as planned.” Christopher's voice is frustrated.

I slide out of bed, the sheets hissing as I move. The floor is cool on my bare feet and I grab my robe from where I tossed it the night before. I wrap it around me, surprised that I'm still