und echoing through his office. His eyes were bloodshot, fixe
ing. "Jairo, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have gone to the offi
room and pulled her into his arms. "It's not your fault, baby. Denice is just throwing a tantrum. A
ut his phone and tried Denice's numbe
first time. Without Denice, the Phoenix project was just a pile of useles
er back. He had
ed his jeweler to procure their latest limited-edition necklace.
arrived at the priva
looking Central Park. A well-dressed man stood and g
r phone screen lit up with a text from an
ed. He hadn't seemed to notice. Denice understood. Everyt
er apartment's smart intercom. She answered it, and Jairo's face
. "Denice, baby, can you open the door? Let's
rmance with a blank face
er phone screen toward Vincent, making
d, but Denice noticed his fingers tap
voice cold. "Jairo, I don't think
"I know I was wrong, but you can't just destroy the P
ed her lips. "It was my work. You we
hung
ed in. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, and his deep gray eyes were like a fr
ly stood straight
t had just unfolded and spoke directly to her, his voice
The man's aura was even more
phone rang again, shrill a
r raised a hand, a gesture inviting her to a
nd. She answered the call and
be impulsive! You're destroying your own legacy along with m
yes swept over the caller ID-'Jairo'-before he held it to his mouth, his voice calm and lev
nto silence for a s
er of his mouth tilted in a barely perce
act, he ended the call and, with a
the man before her. His actions were f
e most trivial of tasks. "Now," he said, his voice dropping
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