Giving favors freely was not Edward Reed's style. He had a calculated smile on his face. All agreements are a means to an end.
In a dimly lit lounge, Heather sat opposite him, her posture stiff even though she was carrying a wine glass like armor.
"So you finally realized your golden boy billionaire moved on," he said, tilting his head.
Heather gave an eye roll. "Edward, don't become arrogant. We have a common interest, which is why I called you rather than to boast."
He raised an eyebrow. "Do we?"
She lowered her voice. "She poses a risk. This therapist. Jenkins Lorna. Nobody knows how close she is to Michael"
Edward gave a slow, low laugh. That clarifies the alteration. Lately, he has been far too silent. concentrated. steady.
Heather's eyes narrowed. I want you to learn everything there is to know about her. before coming here, who she was. What she is concealing
Edward's smile got bigger. "We're using my language now."
"Do what you're best at," she said icily. "Excavate."
Edward rested his chin on his interlocked fingers as he leaned forward. "And what happens when I do?"
Heather's gaze sparkled. "After that, we remind Michael of the true nature of people and the reasons he was better off being alone."
A voice from the past echoed through the phone in Lorna's hand as she stood motionless in her comfortable two-bedroom apartment miles away.
Are you that person, Lorna?
The voice. That voice.
It had been five years since she had heard it.
Mason Clark, the man she had once loved, owned it. The person who had loved her so intensely that it became violent. in charge. Risky.
Lorna gripped the phone tighter.
She said calmly, "I don't know how you got this number, but if you get in touch with me again"
Mason broke off, his words revealing desperation, "I'm clean now." "I've evolved. I've been attending counseling. I wanted to say I was sorry. Only once.
Lorna took a deep breath.
"No."
"Please," he said. "I'm not requesting anything. Take a minute. Simply put, closure.
She ended the call.
Her hand shook. She breathed in short gasps.
It had been years since she had given Mason any thought. Block by block, she had meticulously rebuilt her life, preventing anyone from ever getting close enough to destroy it.
And here he was now. From the ashes of her past, a voice she had buried deep rose like smoke.
Her eyes were burning as she slowly sat down on the couch.
She desired to inform Michael. to tell someone.
However, old instincts took over.
Don't make it true. Don't say it out loud. Simply take a breath.
As soon as Lorna entered the office the following day, Michael realized something was wrong. She tightened her smile. She adopted a more defensive stance.
He didn't exert pressure. However, it bothered him.
He eventually said, "If something's wrong, you don't have to pretend around me," as they stood reviewing reports close to the atrium later that afternoon.
Startled, she raised her head. His eyes, however, remained steady. Warm. secure.
Out of habit, she said, "I'm fine."
Then stopped.
Then she had a change of heart.
She whispered, "Someone from my past resurfaced." "Someone from whom I hoped to never hear again."
Michael tightened his jaw. "Do you require assistance?"
Lorna gave a headshake. "I simply had to say it aloud."
He also didn't push any harder. didn't ask for names or information.
Just for a second, he reached out and touched her hand lightly. A quick touch of grounding.
He said, "You're not alone."
Emotion filled her heart. It was the healing kind, not the one that frightened her.
She gave a nod.
Edward, however, had already started looking across town. Additionally, he had discovered a court document that was sealed under a false identity. A trip to the hospital. Deep down, there was a murmur of scandal.
He smiled.
He whispered, "Oh, Dr. Jenkins, you have a history worth discovering."
.