39

LAYLA

26/60

THURSDAY

"I must know how you deduced it."

Clipped. Stern. Short. Aiden trails out of the living room and chooses a glass, filling it with water before returning.

Then he passed it over to me. Momentarily stunned, I have to blink twice before advancing for it.

It'll be a long night.

****

After reiterating the sequence of events, starting from my examination of the terms to recalling the shares already bought, then concluding. Throughout, Aiden nods and sometimes utters a few words.

"You came to his apartment. I appreciate the element of surprise."

I can't tell if that's sarcasm, but I swallow a mouthful of water. Tristan knows we're coming now.

"I didn't think sufficiently then."

"It's fine. It's done. Now we need to consider something else. Tell me precisely what occurred when you were over there."

I take a deep breath and exhale forcefully. Exactly what happened?

"I assumed I was warning him. I reasoned maybe my father was trying to trick Thompson and Sm