LOGINESMERALDA'S POVI'm in the elevator when my phone buzzes.Marcus.Marcus: Articles are live. All three outlets simultaneously. It's everywhere.I check the time.9:47 PM.Perfect timing.I text back: Good. Send me the links.They come through immediately.NEW YORK TIMES:Julian Voss Charged with Fraud, Tax EvasionWALL STREET JOURNAL:Evidence Reveals Systematic Corporate CrimeBLOOMBERG:Billionaire Faces Twenty Years After Offshore Accounts ExposedI click on the Times article.Read the opening paragraph."Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges tonight against Julian Voss, former CEO of Voss Industries, after evidence surfaced revealing systematic fraud, tax evasion, and securities violations. The evidence includes recorded confessions..."Recorded confessions.His words. His voice. His crimes.All on record.All public now.The elevator reaches the lobby.I walk out.The doorman smiles. "Have a good evening, ma'am.""Thank you."I get in the car.Tell the driver: "Home, please."
JULIAN'S POVShe's gone the door closed five minutes ago, and I am still standing here.Staring at nothing.She said I repulsed her,She said my touch makes her skin crawl, She said....she said she doesn't love me anymore.I sit down, The champagne is still on ice. Unopened, the city lights are still beautiful through the window.The suite is still perfect, but none of it matters, because she's gone, and she's not coming back.I thought...I don't know what I thought, that the interview would reach her, that seeing me would remind her of what we had, that love could survive destruction.But it can't.I destroyed her love.Killed it with neglect and betrayal and chose my mother over my wife. And now it's gone.Really gone.Not dormant. Not waiting.Just—gone.I pour myself champagne, drink it straight from the bottle.Pathetic.I'm pathetic.Begging on television.Kissing her without permission.Desperately clinging to a relationship that died eight months ago.My phone rings.I don't
ESMERALDA'S POVThe suite is exactly as I requested.Living room. Bedroom visible through an open door. Floor-to-ceiling windows showing the city lights.Champagne on ice. Dom Pérignon.He remembered."I didn't know if you still liked" Julian gestures to the champagne."I do."He looks nervous. Thinner than I remember. Dark circles under his eyes."You look good," he says."Thank you.""Different. But good.""People change.""I know. I've changed too."Have you? I want to ask.But I don't.Not yet."Should we sit?" I ask."Yes. Of course."We sit on the couch. Too much distance between us. Too formal.He's fidgeting with his hands."I saw your interview," I say.His face lights up. "You did?""The whole world did, Julian. It went viral.""I meant what I said. All of it.""Did you?""Yes. I love you. I've always loved you. And I know I destroyed us but—" He leans forward. "If there's any chance. Any possibility—""Julian. Stop."He stops."I didn't come here to get back together with y
ESMERALDA'S POVI wake up at 6 AM.The day of.Damien's already awake. Sitting in the chair by the window.Just watching me."How long have you been up?" I ask."A while.""Couldn't sleep?""No."I sit up. "Damien""Don't. Don't try to make me feel better. I'm allowed to be terrified.""I know.""Do you? Because you seem calm. Almost...peaceful."Am I?"I'm not peaceful. I'm just...resolved. I know what I'm doing tonight. And I'm ready.""And what are you doing?""Getting closure. Ending this. Coming home to you."He stands. Walks to the bed."What if seeing him changes things?""It won't.""But what if it does? What if you walk in that room and he's—" He stops. "Different. Changed. Actually worthy of you?""He's not.""How do you know? You haven't seen him since he did that interview."The interview.Right.The one where he publicly declared his love on national television."I saw it," I say quietly."And?""And it doesn't change anything.""You're sure?""Yes. It was desperate. Mani
DAMIEN'S POVMarcus calls at 9:07 AM."Turn on Morning Manhattan. Now.""Why?""Just do it."I turn on the TV.And there's Julian Voss.On national television.Looking broken and desperate.Talking about Esmeralda."...leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life..."My blood runs cold."...if there's any chance, any possibility that you'd give me another opportunity...""Fuck," I breathe.Marcus is still on the phone."Are you watching?""Yes.""This is bad.""I know.""I love her. I've always loved her. And I'll do anything to prove it."The camera pans to the audience.Women crying. People applauding.A public declaration of love.On live television."Damien, you still there?""Yeah.""What do we do?""Nothing. We do nothing.""Nothing? He just declared his love for your wife on national TV—""And it changes nothing. She's seeing him tomorrow anyway. This just—" I stop. "This makes him look more desperate. More pathetic. It actually helps us.""You sure about that?"Am I?"Yes.
JULIAN'S POVThe TV producer calls on Wednesday morning."Mr. Voss, we'd love to have you on the show. A chance to tell your side of the story."My side of the story.The side where I destroyed my marriage, my company, my life."What show?""Morning Manhattan. We're doing a segment on high-profile divorces and redemption. Given your recent...situation...we thought you'd be perfect."Perfect.Right."When?""Tomorrow morning. 9 AM. Live broadcast."Tomorrow.The day before I see Esmeralda."I'll do it.""Excellent. We'll send a car at 8."She hangs up.I sit there thinking:This could be my chance.My chance to reach Esmeralda publicly.To show her I've changed.To prove I'm serious.*************************The next morning, I'm in the green room at 8:30.Makeup artist trying to cover the dark circles under my eyes."You look tired," she says."I am tired.""Well, we'll do our best."The host.......Amanda Chen, perky and professionalstops by."Julian, hi! Thanks so much for doing thi
JULIAN'S POV"Mr. Voss, we need to discuss the document requests from your ex-wife's attorney."Richard Patterson, my lead counsel, sits across from my desk looking far too serious for what should be a non-issue."What about them?" I don't look up from the contract I'm reviewing. The Singapore expa
ESMERALDA'S POV Three days after the pregnancy announcement, I'm still at Lila's, still staring at the divorce papers Julian gave me. I haven't signed them. I should. I know I should. But my hand won't move. "You need to talk to a lawyer," Lila says for the hundredth time. "Before you sign anyth
ESMERALDA'S POV I can't leave. I know I should. Know I'm only torturing myself by staying. But my feet won't move from this spot on the sidewalk across the street from the building. I watch as more furniture is carried out. The dining table where we hosted our first dinner party. The couch where
ESMERALDA'S POVI don't know what day it is anymore.The weeks blur together sleeping, waking, staring at the ceiling, sleeping again. Lila's couch has a permanent dent where my body curls up every night. Every day. All the time."Esme." Lila's voice sounds far away. "Esme, you need to get up.""I







