the hushed interior of a discreet, unmarked office on a
ass walls lined the space, revealing a bustling, silent team of designers and analy
ain console looked up, her expression of intense conce
against the cool metal surface to steady them. She reached into her coat pocket and
the desk. "I'd li
nd opened it. The diamonds glittered under the track lighting, a constellation of
It was the price o
inspect the clarity and the setting. The
ion. Latest collection from Graff. Authenticity v
the necklace, Edith felt like she was carving out
the ground up, waiting to be thrown to the mercy of Giovanni's corporat
whisper. "I need the funds wired immediately. T
er urgency, and began
In its place, the money was already transferring into her business bank acco
phone and called An
'm arranging for a counter-offer to be made to our supplier. Today. T
the sound of the wire transfer
h climbed into a cab outside the building, her company was safely launching a c
over her. She felt hollowed out, but beneath the exhaustion was a t
miss?" the
he said, giving the ad
r design workbooks. She was leaving Giovan
till held the faint scuff marks from her heels the night before
eared from the kitchen. The older wom
said, her voice tight.
thing, Martha," Edith said
g. "Mr. Baldwin is in a terrible mood today. He's
pulling away
bags. She didn't want any of it. She grabbed a single leather portfolio and began filling it with her sketchbo
io shut. The sound was
door sla
h fr
of the bedroom. He threw his overcoat onto a chair, his face like thunde
nto his pocket and pulled out a single,
in the sitting area. It slid across the s
was the intricate design for a couture gown, a signature piece from Lan's
her throat. Her eyes snap
ttle hobby to pass the time?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft. "Did
n't bought a watch back, he had found her most guarded secret. He
r nails bit into the healing cuts o
marriage, she didn't cower. She didn't beg. She
er voice steady. "My work is saf
s eyes was quickly swallowed by a dark, violent rage. He
nds clenching at his sides. "You
olio was packed. Her company was
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