Chapter 2

When I stepped out of the bathroom, the front door lock clicked.

Julian walked in carrying a pastry box from that bakery near the office.

The second he saw me standing by the couch, his smile dropped. He almost tripped on the rug.

"Sienna?" His voice hit an octave higher than normal. "What... what are you doing here?"

Hailey bounced over, trying to loop her arm through his.

"Babe! Your mom is so quiet, I was just telling her—"

"She's not my mom, Hailey!" Julian shoved her arm off, way harder than he meant to.

Hailey staggered back, looking hit.

"She's my wife," Julian muttered, wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve.

Hailey blinked fast, her mouth opening and closing. "Your... what?"

Julian stared at me, trying to figure out how much I knew.

"Sienna, look," he stammered, stepping forward. "This isn't... I can explain."

Hailey's face flushed bright red. Realizing she'd been lied to, she grabbed a small velvet box off the entry table and flipped it open.

"I mean, it doesn't even matter!" she yelled, her voice breaking a little.

"He bought me this sapphire yesterday! And—and I'm pregnant! So..."

The room went dead silent. A clock ticked somewhere near the kitchen.

Julian turned on her, his face turning dark. "Hailey, shut up!"

Then he turned back to me, trying to fix his posture, lowering his tone to that authoritative voice he uses at board meetings.

"Sienna. Go home," he said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"We'll deal with this tonight. You know the company is in the middle of a funding round. A public scene right now ruins both of us."

I walked up to him.

I didn't throw a punch. I didn't raise my voice.

I reached out, fixed the twisted lapel on his suit jacket, and smoothed it flat against his chest.

"You're right," I said quietly. "Public scenes are expensive."

I turned toward the door.

"Sienna, wait!" He ran after me, grabbing the edge of the opening elevator door to keep it from closing.

His hand was visibly trembling on the metal frame.

"What are you going to do? Are you calling the board?"

I looked at his hand, then up at his sweat-slicked forehead.

"Enjoy the penthouse, Julian," I said, and hit the button for the lobby.