Chapter 3

I placed the teacup by his left hand. "His name is Ryan Cole. He works for you. You don't know him?"

Adrian picked up the cup, his gaze settling on my face.

"You seemed pretty protective of him."

"He found an anomaly. I had no reason to sit there and watch him get bullied into admitting a mistake he didn't make."

Adrian gave a short laugh. "But you never used to speak up for anyone."

"That was before."

The smile didn't leave his lips, but something in his eyes went half a shade colder. "Someone told me he got out of your car."

"Frank took the day off. Ryan filled in as my driver for part of the way. Go ahead and get busy — I'm going to bed."

As I turned, I heard him laugh softly behind me.

"All right. Get some sleep."

My hand was just touching the doorknob when he added: "Oh — Ryan won't need to come in anymore. I've had him transferred to the branch office."

I didn't look back. I pulled open the door and walked out.

For the next three days, Adrian didn't come home.

Frank told me: "Ma'am, Boss spoke to me about Ryan filling in for me. He seemed genuinely angry. When a man gets jealous, it means he still cares. Maybe you could give him a way to save face?"

I stared at the eighth message I'd sent Adrian.

"There are documents that need your signature."

Still no reply.

"A man who cares," I said, "doesn't go three days without answering."

That evening, two more calls came in from the docks.

I couldn't wait any longer. I went straight to Lily's apartment.

The intercom buzzed once. Lily's voice floated through: "Who is it?"

"It's me. Claire."

Two seconds of silence, then the lock clicked open.

When the door swung wide, Lily saw me and her lashes trembled.

"Adrian's in the shower... just a moment."

The sound of running water stopped. Adrian's voice came from inside: "Who's here?"

"Me."

Adrian walked out in a bathrobe, hair still dripping. The instant he saw me, he froze, then frowned.

He crossed the room, grabbed me, and pulled me from the center of the living room to the front door.

"What are you doing here?"

His eyes darted to Lily's belly — the anxiety was obvious.

I looked at him. I didn't try to pull my wrist free. "I came to find you."

"Find me?" His brow furrowed deeper. "We'll talk later. Go home first."

"It can't wait."

I pulled a manila envelope from my pocket and slid out a stack of documents.

"Sign this, and I'll leave right now."

Adrian glanced down.

It was the withdrawal confirmation for the company partner, Victor Stone.

"You and Victor have been going back and forth on this for a month. Stop dragging it out." I held out a pen. "He calls me every day and I'm sick of it. If you don't sign, I'm staying the night."

Before he could respond, Lily sniffled softly behind him.

"Adrian, I'm scared..."

Adrian turned to look at her, his frown deepening.

He took the pen, flipped to the last page, and signed his name on the signature line.

"Happy now? Can you leave?"

He tossed the pen onto the table and was already turning toward Lily.

I took the document, confirmed the signature page was clean and complete, then walked to the door.

Adrian called after me, weariness threading through his voice: "Claire, don't come here again. She scares easily. She can't handle you showing up like this."

I didn't turn around.

"Don't worry. I won't be back."

The door closed behind me, and Hayes's text arrived at the same moment.

"Ms. Claire, has the divorce agreement been signed?"

I looked down at the document in my hand — the one disguised as a "withdrawal confirmation" — and typed back:

"Yes."