LOGIN“You entered without cause,” I said. “You stayed without one.” “I don’t know what this is between you two but—” “My wife.” No variation in tone. No additional weight needed. Alicia’s hand lifted a little, then halted mid-motion and settled again without completing the gesture. The woman exhaled
Edward’s POV “Forty thousand. Do I have forty-five?” The paddle was already raised. Alicia’s hand remained under mine, unchanged in position, as though neither of us had adjusted to its presence since it settled there. “Forty-five.” I raised. “Fifty. Fifty-five.” On the left, a man leaned forw
The fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
Edward's POV He still thinks he came here for the meeting. The room absorbed it. Nobody spoke. Alicia studied the table. Volkov’s attention stayed on her, patient, certain of the space he occupied. I picked up my water glass. Drank. Set it down. He leaned forward. "What I bring isn't only cap
"Two weeks," he said. "Who handled it?" "Me." He looked at me steadily. "You built a structure to reduce dependence on any single person. And the first time it was tested." "I was there and it needed handling." "You're always there." His eyes moved to Edward and back. "That’s what I’m trying to
And all I could think about was the petition sitting on my nightstand at home. "Sir?" I looked up. Leo was watching me. Waiting. "The press conference," I said. "Tell Victor's team Mrs. Valentine won't be available." Leo's expression didn't change. But his pause was longer than usual. "May I
Edward's POV The estate was quiet when I arrived. Erily calm. I walked through the front doors. Set my keys on the console table. Marble, cold under my fingers. The chandelier fractured light across the foyer, illuminating nothing that mattered. And stopped. Vivienne sat in the sitting room. Ba
I climbed the stairs. My footsteps echoed off the walls. The house swallowed the sound. The bedroom door was already open. I pushed through. My suit jacket from yesterday dropped carelessly over the chair. The bed was unmade. A water glass sat on the nightstand, half-empty, dew ring marking the w
Alicia's POV The studio was already warm by the time I looked up from my laptop. July heat seeped through the windows, thick in the late morning, more typical of the season than the brief cold spells that had cropped up throughout the month. I’d been working since eight. Maybe earlier. Time blurr







