The Billionaire's Regret
she declares before yelling over her shoulder, “AUNTIE HAZEL, MOMMY SAID I WIN!”
In the frame, Hazel raises her coffee mug with the expression of someone betrayed by her own country. Rhea appears from the other side, patting Poppy’s head gently while half-asleep.
“Love you, Mommy,” Poppy says, pressing her nose too close to the camera.
“Love you too.”
Poppy hits something at random.
The screen goes black.
I place the phone on the table, face-down, moving slowly. My fingers are cold.
Luc gives a warm smile, utterly unaware that he just witnessed a grenade go off. “Well,” he says with a shrug. “The most honest negotiation we’ve had this morning.”